Rep. Tom Suozzi and a coalition of centrist Democrats unveiled an expanded bipartisan-style political initiative Thursday aimed at defining what they describe as the Democratic Party’s mainstream wing, emphasizing capitalism, fiscal responsibility, public safety and patriotism while distancing themselves from both the party’s progressive flank and the political far right.
During a Zoom news conference, organizers of the “Promise to America” campaign announced that 10 Democratic members of Congress and five congressional candidates have signed the pledge, which outlines six guiding principles centered on economic growth, secure communities, responsible government and national unity.
Suozzi, whose 3rd Congressional District includes parts of Nassau County and Queens, said the effort is intended to organize Democrats who share what he called the party’s “traditional values.”
“We’re Democrats. We’re proud Democrats. We’ll always be Democrats,” Suozzi said. “We just want to try and start organizing folks that think the way that we do in the Democratic Party.”
The announcement came days after Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates posted high-profile victories in New York City primaries, intensifying debate over the party’s ideological direction heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Organizers said the initiative seeks to offer what they view as an alternative to both the far left and the far right.
According to organizers, the pledge’s principles include support for capitalism over socialism, secure borders and safe communities, fiscal responsibility, effective government, political moderation and patriotism. The campaign also calls for an economy that rewards work, lowers costs and expands opportunity.
Felix Frisch, director of Promise to America, said the organization was created by a group of young Democrats from colleges across the country who became frustrated with the party’s direction but inspired by lawmakers advocating a more centrist message.
Frisch said the group has been working with Suozzi and Rep. Adam Gray of California since launching the initiative on June 3 and has since recruited members of Congress, congressional candidates, state lawmakers, mayors, county executives and grassroots supporters.
“Our politics gives false choices between extremes on the left and on the right,” Frisch said. “Each of these signers reject that.”
Gray said voters are increasingly frustrated with political polarization and are more focused on everyday concerns than ideological battles.
“Most people that I represent don’t spend their day thinking and talking about politics,” Gray said. “They spend their day paying their bills, raising their kids, finding a good job, buying a home, building a better future.” He said the initiative rejects “false choices” between economic growth and working families, public safety and individual liberty, and investment and fiscal responsibility.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey said recent election results in New York and political rhetoric elsewhere underscore the need for Democrats to distinguish themselves from democratic socialism.
“I believe deeply in capitalism,” Gottheimer said. “I’m a democratic capitalist.” He said Democrats should focus on lowering the costs of electricity, child care, health care and food rather than engaging in ideological divisions.
Suozzi argued that both the political left and right have successfully tapped into voters’ economic anxieties but said the Promise to America coalition disagrees with their proposed solutions.
“People are not happy with the status quo,” he said, adding that many Americans working full time still struggle to afford housing, health insurance and retirement. “We’ve laid out these principles to just make very clear what our values are, and we’ll continue to build more meat on the bone with policy ideas.”
Asked whether this week’s New York primary results could hurt Democrats in the general election, Suozzi said the newly nominated candidates represent safely Democratic districts but argued that members representing competitive districts face different political realities.
“That type of campaign and that type of ideology is not going to play with the people in our districts,” Suozzi said. He added that the organization plans to spend the coming months recruiting additional members of Congress, state and local officials and community leaders who identify with its platform.
