Centrist Democrats Launch Next American Era to Promote Deregulatory Agenda

Centrist Democrats, led by Cheri Bustos, have established a new policy and advocacy organization named Next American Era. This initiative aims to encourage the Democratic Party to adopt a "pro-growth" deregulatory agenda, aligning with the principles of the "abundance" movement. The organization is positioned as a "hub for center-left policy and advocacy" and is strategically focused on the upcoming 2028 elections, following the Democratic Party's defeat in the 2024 elections to President Donald Trump.

Common Dreams

Next American Era is structured as a 501(c)(4) political nonprofit and plans to run issue-focused advertisements during the midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign, although it will not endorse specific candidates. Bustos, who has a history as a corporate lobbyist with clients including OpenAI and Oracle, emphasized that the organization aims to streamline regulations, cut red tape, and support workforce training as key policy goals. The group shares principles with the abundance movement, which advocates for reducing regulatory burdens to foster economic growth.

Common Dreams

The abundance agenda has faced significant criticism from various quarters. Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, described the proposed economic policies as "some of the weakest" she has encountered in recent polling. Critics like antitrust advocate Zephyr Teachout have expressed concerns about the ambiguity of the abundance agenda, questioning whether it promotes necessary reforms or serves as a cover for regressive deregulation. Teachout noted the difficulty in discerning the true intentions behind the abundance narrative, which has garnered support from corporations and billionaires.

Common Dreams

The abundance movement has received backing from influential entities, including the Koch network and various players in the fossil fuel and tech industries. The Revolving Door Project has warned that the ambiguity in the abundance agenda allows private interests to exploit it as a "Trojan Horse" for their own objectives. Next American Era is part of a broader trend, with several center-left groups emerging or expanding in the past 18 months, including the Searchlight Institute, Majority Democrats, and WelcomePAC.

Common Dreams

• “Not sure why you’d want to put ads out on these for candidates unless it’s an opp,” — Lindsay Owens, Executive Director, Groundwork Collaborative

Common Dreams

• “The ambiguity of the abundance agenda’s policy proposals, strategic or otherwise, allows private interests to leverage 'abundance' as a Trojan Horse for their preferences,” — Revolving Door Project

Common Dreams

• “Just one more billionaire front group. Just one more neoliberal policy shop,” — Austin Ahlman, Political Analyst

Common Dreams

The launch of Next American Era reflects a strategic effort by centrist Democrats to reshape their party's approach to economic policy in the wake of electoral setbacks. However, the organization's alignment with the abundance movement and its proposed deregulatory agenda have sparked considerable debate and skepticism among critics, raising questions about the implications for future Democratic strategies.

Common Dreams