Scoop: How the left plans to start winning Democratic primaries again

Progressives plan to exert more pressure in Democratic congressional primaries to get the left to coalesce behind one viable candidate rather than split the vote and create an opening for moderates, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This new strategy reflects how progressives are adapting after a bruising Illinois primary night in which they won just one of the four open House races they were targeting.

It was a disappointing result for the left after their shock win in a New Jersey special election last month to replace now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill. "I think because we had these wins, the progressive movement is like, 'Okay, we're going to win everywhere,'" Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Axios. The California Democrat, who endorsed several unsuccessful candidates in Illinois, said he is under no such illusions: "We've got about a third of the electorate, but that still requires a fight."

What happened: The Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsed candidates in all four Chicago-area races, but only Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss prevailed.

Biss defeated an even more left-wing rival, journalist and influencer Kat Abughazaleh, with AIPAC-backed state Sen. Laura Fine finishing third. He will succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a staunch progressive. Former Rep. Melissa Bean defeated progressive tech consultant Junaid Ahmed with millions in ad support from AIPAC and crypto and AI-aligned PACs. The CPC endorsees in the two other races, labor leader Anthony Driver Jr. and state Sen. Robert Peters, finished third behind more establishment-aligned opponents, some of whom were also financed by AIPAC and crypto.

Between the lines: Progressive groups and lawmakers split their endorsements across multiple candidates in several of these races, with lower-tier left-wing candidates seen as siphoning votes from the leading progressive.

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told Axios the CPC is "having conversations with all these progressive groups" about "the role we need to play in making sure that we coalesce around one candidate." Progressives, she said, need to then "coordinate our resources to support that candidate." CPC Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) confirmed this strategy to Axios: "Organizations and candidates need to coalesce on the progressive side if we want to beat [AIPAC and tech's] big money."

The intrigue: That is not unlike how the Democratic leadership often tries to elevate its preferred candidates in swing-seat Democratic primaries.

Former House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was recorded in 2018 privately urging a rival to now-Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) to drop out. This cycle, the DCCC endorsed a dozen well-funded candidates in swing seats whose primary rivals fumed that the move was anti-democratic.

What's next: Progressive insurgents are contesting open House primaries across the country, with some also challenging Democratic incumbents.

The next big tests for the left will be in Pennsylvania in May and then California, New Jersey and New York in June.