Competition among influence groups in the Democratic Party: the Obama network strengthens its position ahead of the elections

The approach of the 2026 midterm elections has intensified competition among several intraparty factions within the Democratic Party. A number of groups from traditional Democratic elites, who have held leadership positions in the party for decades and consolidated around the political entourage of Bill Clinton, announced the end of their political careers throughout 2025 and early 2026.

Thus, in November 2025, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and longtime Democratic leader in the lower chamber of Congress Nancy Pelosi stated that her current term as congresswoman, which ends in January 2027, would be her last.

A number of other influential Democratic congressmen announced that they would not run for the next sessions of Congress.

The resignation of some longtime party leaders became the first stage of cadre renewal among Democratic elites following the defeat in the 2024 elections.

At the same time, the cadre reboot of the Democratic Party is occurring at a moment when a new group of party leaders has not yet fully formed, and informal discussions about the future party course are ongoing among intraparty factions and their donor networks.