How have Democrats’ policies shifted since the last major US election?

After Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in 2024, some Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm elections are reassessing their positions on several contentious issues. Some have moderated their stances on transgender rights, while others are more forcefully opposing Israel’s war in Gaza, at times breaking with party leadership. The shifts reflect voter concerns and the rise of progressive populism, driven in part by groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America, as Democrats seek to regain control of Congress.