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Progressives: Dems must move left

by Kevin Cirilli - 11/04/14 5:57 PM ET

The polls haven’t even closed and liberals are already bracing for an uncertain election night while strategizing for 2016.

The takeaway from one progressive group? Democratic candidates ought to move to the left, toward Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

{mosads}Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America (DFA), said on Tuesday that “the lessons Democrats should take from tonight’s election are already clear.”

“Americans are demanding an aggressive response to the country’s income inequality crisis and the key to Democrats winning in 2016 will be delivering one,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said that “too many Democrats ran too little and too late on Elizabeth Warren-inspired populist progressive priorities.”

Chamberlain said more liberals should have run on policies that include expanding Social Security benefits and breaking up the big banks.

“Democrats win big when they run as populist progressives, not when they hem-and-haw about raising the minimum wage or only mention protecting Social Security as a last-ditch Hail Mary,” Chamberlain said.

“The polls are still open and surprises will happen, but there’s a reason why Al Franken and Jeff Merkley are expected to post big wins while Mark Pryor is thinking about career options,” Chamberlain said, referring to Democratic senators from Minnesota, Oregon and Arkansas, respectively.

Tags Al Franken Democracy for America Democratic Party Elizabeth Warren Jeff Merkley Mark Pryor