It took a bit for the message from the grassroots—and the huge majority of voters—to sink in, but it has. Democrats everywhere aren't talking about Social Security in crisis anymore. They're talking about the real crisis—cratering retirement savings—and how to help by expanding Social Security. The entire party is now the Elizabeth Warren wing on the issue.
Last Thursday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee released statements from incumbent Democratic senators and Senate candidates saying they supported Social Security and Medicare expansion.
One of the co-signers was Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who said in a 2010 interview, "We can't solve our budget crisis without dealing with our entitlements."
But in the release, Bennet, who now looks to have an easier path to re-election than what was once thought, said, "With our seniors living longer, expanding Social Security and securing its long-term solvency will ensure that our most vulnerable Americans who have paid into Social Security all their lives are guaranteed the retirement they deserve."
Bennet was joined by Senate challengers including former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, former North Carolina state Rep. Deborah Ross, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, and former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold.
In addition, the campaigns of two other Senate candidates, Katie McGinty in Pennsylvania and Florida Rep. Patrick Murphy, confirmed they supported expansion.
And in the House, Democratic Reps. Linda T. Sánchez, Mark Pocan, and Michael M. Honda are introducing new expansion legislation. It's clearly not going to move this session, and is unlikely to move in the next Congress unless Democrats can also take the House. That's a big—but not impossible!—if.
Regardless of whether expansion can happen in the next Congress, though, is the bigger win here. That win is the fact that Social Security cuts are not going to be on anyone's negotiating table anymore. Eat your heart out, Third Way.
Can you chip in $3 to each of these candidates to get more Democrats into the House and take back the Senate?