The Jeff Flakes of the world will never become Democrats if the party’s only coherent message calls for “free this” and “free that” or if its most recognizable leader is a 76 year-old socialist from Vermont or an ultra-liberal Harvard professor from Massachusetts.

I’m a lifelong Democrat and fairly progressive on almost every issue. But I’m a progressive who likes to win elections. And I know we will never see progressive policies put into action unless we change the path in which the Democratic Party is currently headed.

Our party would be wise to take a step back and consider the opportunity that is being placed at its feet. We should firmly reject efforts to turn the Democratic Party into an entirely coastal and urban party dominated by the far-left wing, where we demand every candidate support single-payer health care, $15 minimum wage and free college for everyone.