The present — and future — of the American left

The Democratic Party is extraordinarily unified behind Vice President Kamala Harris — a cohesion born of a defeat-Donald-Trump-at-all-costs strategy in an election with deep consequences for the future of American democracy. But the truce is a fragile one that is likely to end with the presidential election, whether Harris wins or loses. If Harris is president, the progressive and centrist wings of the party will compete for control of her agenda. A Harris loss, meanwhile, would kick off a period of party-wide soul-searching and intense competition over the best ideological path forward.

In a new series, Vox explains the current state of the American left: its transformation during the four years of Joe Biden’s presidency, its coming internal debates and fractures, its power players and shifting constituencies, and its radically different trajectories, which hinge on what happens in November.

The series will launch on October 14. And please check out our September series: The present — and future — of the American right.

Reporters: Eric Levitz, Ian Millhiser, Nicole Narea, Christian Paz, Andrew Prokop

Editors: Sean Collins, Cameron Peters, Patrick Reis

Art Director: Paige Vickers

Style & Standards: Elizabeth Crane, Anouck Dussaud, Kim Eggleston, Caity PenzeyMoog, Sarah Schweppe

Audience: Shira Tarlo, Kelsi Trinidad

Special thanks: Bill Carey, Elbert Ventura