By: Nicholas Scotchie, Opinion Reporter     

Going into the 2020 presidential election, what’s on the mind of many Democrats is how to appeal to an electorate that could not secure them a winning map in 2016. But as the long journey to select a nominee begins, many have begun asking the question of which path to take.

The first path is of the progressive wing of the party, embittered by what they saw as a orchestrated defeat of progressive Bernie Sanders. From their perspective, the working class has turned their back on the party which sold out to special interests, pushing free trade deals and foreign conflicts that drained America of its wealth.

They propose an embrace of hefty economic reforms, including universal healthcare, a top taxation rate as high as 70%, as proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and ending the subsidization of corporations. While usually described as “liberal”, many members of this faction hold culturally conservative views, including limiting foreign worker programs and rejecting internationalism, such as Representative Ro Khanna.

The other path is the centrist course, pushed not just by establishment figures but also by swing and red district Democrats. Their claims seem to be bolstered by the changing opinions of the Democratic base. In response to stances, President Donald Trump has taken on trade and foreign policy, Democrats have increased their approval of free trade and internationalism. A pledge to unite the country from divisive rhetoric with a bipartisan approach could prove fruitful for candidates like Michael Bloomberg and Joe Biden.

The choice the party will make is many months away as the primary race is in its infancy, and only time will tell the direction the Democrats go.