Overview
- Third Way’s invite-only “Winning the Middle” conference convened Sunday and Monday in Charleston to coordinate an effort to elevate a moderate 2028 presidential contender.
- Third Way president Jon Cowan criticized high-profile progressives, arguing AOC- and Sanders-aligned groups have flipped zero battleground House seats since 2018.
- Conference presentations highlighted polling that one-third of Democratic primary voters identify as moderate and that roughly three-quarters prefer candidates who compromise to get results.
- Speakers urged stylistic shifts toward plainspoken, patriotic rhetoric and everyday solutions, with cautions against relying on niche online discourse or vague terms like “affordability.”
- Leaders including Matt Bennett said the group will meet repeatedly and is already engaging prospective 2028 candidates, with South Carolina chosen to seed these ideas in an influential primary state.