Columnist Lydia Polgreen Labels Centrist Democratic Identity Politics as 'Empty, Meaningless Signaling'

New York Times Opinion columnist Lydia Polgreen has sharply criticized the approach to identity politics by what she terms "centrist elites" within the Democratic Party. In a social media post on August 27, 2025, Polgreen asserted that this strategy is fundamentally cynical, unwanted by the populace, and not genuinely supported by the left wing of the party. Her comments came in response to a tweet from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, which seemingly framed an issue around the identity of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Polgreen's critique, shared on X (formerly Twitter), stated: > "This also speaks to the fundamental cynicism of identity politics as deployed by centrist elites in the Democratic party. No one wants this, and it is certainly not being pushed by "the left." It is empty, meaningless signaling." This echoes her broader commentary on the Democratic Party's messaging, which she and other analysts have argued often misses the mark with working-class voters. She has previously highlighted a perceived disconnect between the party's focus and the tangible anxieties of everyday Americans, such as housing costs and inflation.

The columnist's remarks align with a growing internal debate among Democrats regarding their electoral strategy and public perception. Maureen Dowd, another New York Times columnist, has similarly observed that some Democrats are realizing "woke is broke," suggesting that an overemphasis on "hyper-political correctness" has alienated a significant portion of the electorate. This sentiment reflects a broader media analysis indicating that the term "identity politics" is often applied disproportionately to the left, even as conservative movements also mobilize around identity.

Polgreen has championed alternative approaches, pointing to the success of figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign focused on listening to voters' direct concerns about issues like rent and public services. She argued that Mamdani's victory was a "rebuke of the strategy" that shames voters rather than engaging with their needs, demonstrating a blueprint for Democrats to connect on substantive issues. While Polgreen acknowledges that "all politics is, at some level, identity politics," her criticism targets the superficial deployment of identity by centrist figures rather than a genuine engagement with diverse experiences.

This ongoing discussion underscores the strategic challenges facing the Democratic Party as it navigates internal ideological divisions and seeks to build a broader, more durable coalition. Polgreen's latest comments reinforce the argument that a shift towards addressing core economic anxieties and away from what she perceives as "empty signaling" is crucial for the party's future success.