The Democratic Party "went to the center" after the 2018 midterm elections — despite the attention given newly elected progressive lawmakers, according to House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
"We have 63 [freshman] members," Hoyer told reporters, per The Washington Times on Wednesday.
"My view is that the caucus largely went to the center. We took a lot of Republican seats, we took a lot of purple seats."
The Washington Times noted progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's, D-N.Y., Green New Deal is still in committees, and fellow progressive Rep. Rashida Talib's, D-Mich., impeachment inquiry resolution has not gained ground — though the left wing of the caucus sank their leaders' budget.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., last month agreed with Hoyer, saying the party's net gain of 40 districts last November "were right down the middle, mainstream, hold-the-center victories," the news outlet reported.
Hoyer told reporters Democrats are united on legislative priorities like healthcare, election reform, and lowering drug prices, The Washington Times reported.
"I think the speaker is correct in that the party is principled and pragmatic," he said.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.