The Wall Street Journal argues Democrats must shed Trump-era excesses to win in 2028, pointing to AOC as a model. The opinion piece contends the party's "shameful idiocies" during the Trump years alienated working-class voters.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents authenticity and economic populism that resonates beyond progressive bubbles. Her ability to communicate across class lines contrasts with Democratic consultants' obsession with cultural semantics that repel the median voter.

The 2028 presidential race demands a candidate who can reclaim the party's New Deal coalition. Trump's grip on the GOP leaves an opening for Democrats who prioritize material conditions over identity politics, but only if they disown the performative excesses that defined their opposition.

Wall Street Journal editors suggest the path forward requires rejecting the professional-class consensus that dominates Democratic institutions. AOC's primary victories and cross-district fundraising prove an unapologetic economic message wins—if party leaders have the courage to follow.