Young progressive Democrats redefine party’s future after Trump’s return

Galvanized by the president Donald Trump Despite the sweeping second-term agenda, a new generation of progressive Democrats is working to redefine the party’s future.

The original “squad,” a group of young left-wing lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDN.Y was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2018 in a referendum on Trump’s first term.

Now, with Trump back in the Oval Office and Republicans in control of the House and Senate, a new wave of progressive candidates is emerging across the country.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zahran Mamdani and Illinois congressional candidate Kat Abu Ghazaleh have emerged as rising stars in the Democratic Party. (Ping Guan/Reuters; Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

Zahran Mamdani launches anti-Trump tour through five New York City boroughs

Zahran Mamdani

Zahran Mamdani The Democratic primary victory shocked the political establishment in June when the Democratic Socialist candidate easily defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral primary.

The New York congressman has centered his campaign around affordability, successfully using social media to build a broad coalition of support among New Yorkers.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zahran Mamdani speaks to volunteers at a campaign launch in Brooklyn, September 28, 2025. (Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Mamdani’s platform includes ambitious campaign promises like a rent freeze, free child care, free express buses, city-run grocery stores, a higher minimum wage and a “Trump-proof” New York City.

He plans to pay for his ambitious campaign promises by raising taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers.

Young progressives see Zahran Mamdani, AOC as the future of the Democratic Party — on one condition

Mamdani was supported by the Democratic Socialists of America.

Trump has called Mamdani a “100% crazy communist” and a “little communist,” but Mamdani confirmed that He is a democratic socialist.

Omar Fatah

Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, nicknamed the “Mamdani of Minneapolis,” is running for mayor of Minneapolis this year.

Like Mamdani, Fatah is considered a democratic socialist and has received the support of the Social Democrats.

Social Democratic mayoral candidate Omar Fatah in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 19, 2025. (Omar Fatah campaign)

Fatah Ibn Immigrant parents From Somalia, he has committed to raising the city’s minimum wage, increasing the supply of affordable housing and combating what he calls police violence.

Like Mamdani, Fatah has called for replacing some police department duties with community-led alternatives. He also wants to issue legal ID cards to illegal immigrants.

Kat Abu-Ghazaleh

Kat Abu Ghazaleh, 26, is the progressive Gen Z candidate running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District next year.

viral Video of an ICE agent Abu-Ghazaleh being pushed to the ground outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview on September 19 has become a flashpoint in the divisive debate over Trump’s deportation proceedings.

Abu-Ghazaleh is a journalist and former activist who frequents protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abu-Ghazaleh holds a megaphone outside the Broadview ICE processing facility on September 26, 2025. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

She recently accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of committing “crimes against humanity.”

Abu-Ghazaleh received national attention earlier this year for his work Wondering why it’s so controversial That illegal immigrants should have access to taxpayer-funded health care.

“I do not have health insurance, and I will run for Congress,” the young progressive’s campaign website said.

Invite them

Aftin Behn, a former health care community organizer and current Democratic state representative, on Tuesday received the Democratic nomination to represent him Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.

The Dickson County Democratic Party described Behn as “our AOC in TN,” a reference to “The Squad” member Ocasio-Cortez, according to the Tennessee Star.

Tennessee State Rep. Aftin Behn speaks to members of the public before the start of the Democratic Party Forum for candidates running in the special election for the 7th Congressional District at the Fairview Recreation Center in Fairview on September 7, 2025. (Alan Poesner/The Tennessean/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Behn describes herself on her campaign website as an “angry social worker,” and was inspired to run for the House after Congress passed Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” earlier this year.

Behn is running in the special election to replace Rep. Mark Green, Republican of Tennessee, who retired from Congress earlier this year.

Mallory McMorrow

Mallory McMorrow has long been considered a rising star in the Democratic Party.

she She announced her offer She ran in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race earlier this year, portraying herself as an outsider and calling for a new generation of leaders in Washington ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

McMorrow did it She said she would not vote Leader of Democrats in the Senate Chuck SchumerDN.Y., to continue as party leader, adding that it is time for him to step down.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Democrat of Michigan, holds a Project 2025 book during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Monday, August 19, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The 38-year-old Michigan state senator has received national attention for herself Viral speech To the Michigan State Senate in 2022, where she responded to a Republican lawmaker’s allegations that she was “grooming” and “sexualizing” children.

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“I am the greatest threat to your hollow and hateful scheme,” McMorrow said, criticizing Republican state Sen. Lana Theis for mentioning her name in a fundraising email. “We will not let hate win”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Democratic National Committee, Mamdani, Fatah, Abu-Ghazaleh, Behn, and McMorrow, but did not receive any responses.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.