Reporters Notebook: A Democratic majority could expose the limits of the progressive agenda

"You made me promises.Promises.Knowing I'd believe.Promises.

Promises.I knew you'd never keep."— Promises, Promises by Naked Eyes"I am a supporter of Medicare-for-all," declared Minnesota’s Democratic nominee for Senate, Lt.Gov.

Peggy Flanagan, D."I'm going to get there with my friend Sen.

Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.And we are going to power map the s--t out of the U.S.

Senate and figure out how to build power for the things that we know that we deserve and the things that we need."Hard-left progressive House and Senate candidates like Flanagan are pitching Medicare-for-all.The abolition of ICE.

The Green New Deal.An arms embargo for Israel.

And a $25 an hour minimum wage.Flanagan is in a race with Republican Senate nominee Michelle Tafoya to succeed retiring Sen.Tina Smith, D-Minn.

The race favors Flanagan.However, it’s not a done deal that she wins.

But Democratic Socialist candidates for the House like Donavan McKinney in Michigan, Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania, Melat Kiros in Colorado, along with Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York probably will.Come January, they will prospectively represent Democratic strongholds where progressive ideas are popular.MEET THE FAR-LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN 2026 MIDTERMSDemocratic candidate for U.S.

Senate, Minnesota Lt.Gov.

Peggy Flanagan, speaks during a primary election night party at First Avenue on August 11, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn.(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)But if Democrats win either the House or Senate, it won’t be because voters pulled the lever for Kiros in Denver or Avila Chevalier in Harlem.

They’ll win because Democrat Cait Conley defeated Rep.Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in Dutchess County, north of New York City.

Maybe because voters cast their ballots for Democrat Brian Poindexter in Wooster, Ohio, rather than Rep.Max Miller, R-Ohio.

Democrats could flip the House if Democratic nominee Christina Bohannan appeals more to voters in Davenport, IA than...