New Dems vs. old Dems — who will end up dominating the desperate party?

An Illinois lawmaker blasted the “chaos” and “damage” of the Trump administration and announced that a group of Democrats is ready to move their party in a new direction.

Brad Schneider, the U.S. representative for Illinois’s 10th congressional district, said Americans have “good reason” to be angry at Washington in an op-ed published by Fox News. The Democrat criticized President Donald Trump and the “amateurish incompetence” of his “closet advisors.”

But fear not, Schneider assured voters as he trumpeted the New Democrat Coalition, which he described as “a group of 115 pragmatic, center-left House Democrats dedicated to finding commonsense solutions.” Despite the “New” in its name, the group was actually founded in 1997 and consists of Democrats who “work across the aisle and across the Capitol to advance innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking policies,” according to the website.

Touting a “center” focus and a “unity agenda,” the lawmaker claimed the group that he chairs is a “growing majority” in the House Democratic Caucus.

“Our vision for the path forward is grounded on three pillars: economic growth and lowering costs, healthy and safe communities, and strong national security and defense,” he wrote.

“First, New Dems are working to create an abundance of new, well-paying jobs, to raise the nation’s standard of living, and to help Americans achieve financial freedom – not just to make ends meet, but to get ahead,” he continued.

Statement from Chair @RepSchneider on how Republicans are refusing to lower costs for Americans and instead are working to cut Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ic1SHrxmPF

— New Democrat Coalition (NDC) (@NewDemCoalition) March 25, 2025

“Second, we are committed to ensuring people feel safe and secure in their homes and on their way to work, school, and play,” added Schneider, whose party has championed zero-bail, illegal immigration, and defunding police. “New Dems are working to protect communities from crime and violence while ensuring every American has access to clean air and water, affordable housing, education, and more.”

“Finally, we are determined to finally fix our broken immigration system and secure our borders,” the chair of the New Democrat Coalition surprisingly wrote. “We are working to modernize our defense, diplomatic, and development capabilities to advance American interests at home and abroad. And we are actively responding to a rapidly changing climate by improving the resiliency of critical infrastructure and investing in the clean energies of the future.”

Here’s what New Dems were up to this week: pic.twitter.com/2K1xKl16qg

— New Democrat Coalition (NDC) (@NewDemCoalition) March 28, 2025

The Democrat contended that the nation “is at a critical crossroads,” and the new coalition is “steeled for a long fight.”

“We will not shy away from confronting the president and congressional Republicans to defend our values and protect our democracy. Nor will we hesitate to work together for the good of the nation,” he said.

In its 25-year history, the coalition helped shape and advance the Affordable Care Act under former President Obama and noted on the website that members “secured key provisions” in the measure. The site also boasts about how “New Dems stood strong to hold this corrupt administration accountable,” referring to Trump’s first term.

“Over 25 years, one theme emerges: New Dems are the Majority Makers and the ‘get stuff done’ caucus,” the site proclaims.

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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