Tim Balk, The New York Times

Two days after the New York primary, a group of moderate Democrats signed a letter pushing back on the philosophy of the ascendant Democrats. “We are capitalist, not socialist,” said the letter, whose signatories worry that Republicans will find success casting the entire Democratic Party as outside the mainstream.

Roksana Amid, The Long Island Herald

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.

David Larson, The Carolina Journal

The pushback was not all words. Some centrist Democrats took an additional step and created a pledge — the Promise to America — defending six fairly basic American values.

“We are capitalist, not socialist.”

“We want safety, not lawlessness.”

“We are responsible, not reckless.”

“Government should solve problems, not create them.”

“We are mainstream, not extreme.”

“We are proud, not ashamed of America.”

Many of these six pledge statements directly push back against DSA talking points. The Promise to America quickly got multiple major signatories.

Brigid Bergin, Gothamist

The Democratic lawmaker, who represents Eastern Queens and Northern Nassau County, held a Zoom press conference with a handful of other moderates to announce their “Promise to America,” a set of six principles that Suozzi said defines their centrist lane within the party.

Will Hofmann, The Asheville Citizen Times

They are "capitalist, not socialist," they want "safety, not lawlessness," and they are "mainstream, not extreme." They are signees of "The Promise to America," and Democratic candidate for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District Jamie Ager is one of them.

Peter Savodnik, The Free Press

It is also the subtext of Suozzi’s Promise to America, a pledge to push back against the leftist tsunami engulfing his party. Suozzi formally unveiled it last Thursday, two days after a slate of candidates backed by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani won Democratic House primaries in New York City. The pledge includes support for capitalism, free speech, and America—and, just as importantly, opposition to socialism, purity tests, and a belief that the country is the root of all evil everywhere.

Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek

Responding to Ocasio-Cortez’s criticism with a social media post, the group wrote: "Our Promise to America isn’t just about rejecting socialism, it’s a vision for the future. Our principles say it best: We believe in an economy that works for everyone, not just those already at the top. We believe in secure borders and safe communities.

Leilah Ortega, Nevada Current

“We are capitalist, not socialist,” declares a “Promise to America” signed by Nevada U.S. Democratic Rep. Susie Lee and 14 other centrist House Democrats.  Promise to America created the pledge earlier this month, with the help of New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi and California Democratic Rep. Adam Gray. In their first X post, Promise to America says their initiative “is the path forward for the Democratic Party and our Country.” 

Michael Graham, NH Journal

Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., is one of just 10 Democrats who have signed on to the “Promise to America,” a newly launched coalition of centrists pushing back against the party’s progressive wing. The initiative, spearheaded by lawmakers like Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., aims to present a highly visible alternative to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

‍ Dagen McDowell, Fox Business

Dagen McDowell analyzes the escalating internal conflict within the Democratic Party, labeled a "Democrats' Civil War." The segment highlights the "socialist sweep" in New York City and House Democrats' "Promise to America" pledge to counter progressive influence, raising concerns about the party's future direction and the viability of socialist policies.

Ernest Luning, Colorado Politics

Killin and others who signed the initiative said Thursday in an online news conference that moderate Democrats need to do a better job communicating their vision, particularly as the party’s left wing is making headlines by winning primaries in deep blue districts. “They may be part of my party, but I don’t think they are the whole of the party,” Killin said, referring to candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. “They should not be the face of our party, and that’s why we need to be organized and clear in our vision, and that’s why the Promise to America is such a critical part of that.”

Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek

The pledge to U.S. voters to fight “extremes” on both the left and right, released on Friday, comes after a streak of victories for Democratic Socialists of America’s candidates in primaries in New York, which prompted a vitriolic attack from President Donald Trump.

Tiffany Chartier, The Dallas Express

Thirteen Democratic House members and candidates have signed onto a new centrist initiative called “Promise to America,” explicitly declaring “We are capitalist, not socialist” and calling for secure borders, fiscal responsibility, and national pride. The announcement comes days after Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates won several primaries in New York, bringing to light the ongoing tensions inside the Democratic Party as it prepares for the 2026 midterms under President Donald Trump.

Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News

A group of roughly 13 Democrats have signed a pledge to promote moderate policies within the party — acting as a rebuke to the party’s progressive wing seeking to oust more centrist members. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., is among those leading the charge after he introduced the pledge at the center-left conference WelcomeFest earlier this month. The pledge directly embraces capitalism while opposing socialist policies and also touts policies such as secure borders, free speech, and “confident patriotism.”

Tim Balk, The New York Times

The letter is led by Representative Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat who flipped a swing district on Long Island two years ago. He said the group aimed to secure signatures from 20 Democratic candidates, 200 state and local officials, and 2,000 activists — and to “build a movement.”

Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News

The moderate-progressive split among Democrats is growing worse, a divide that Jeffries has to navigate every day. A group of 15 moderate Democratic candidates and incumbents has signed onto “The Promise to America,” a pledge meant to unite centrists and promote capitalism over socialism.

Reuven Rosenfeld, VIN News

Thirteen moderate Democrats are banding together to counter the influence of democratic socialists in their party, signing onto a new “Promise to America” initiative that endorses capitalism over socialism, strong borders, public safety and pride in the United States.

Max Cohen, Punchbowl News

Fifteen House Democratic members and candidates are signing onto the Promise to America, a pledge meant to unite centrists and promote capitalism over socialism. Among the signers: Reps. Tom Suozzi (N.Y.), Adam Gray (Calif.), Janelle Bynum (Ore.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (Mich.), Susie Lee (Nev.), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Don Davis (N.C.), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), and congressional candidates Killin, Marlene Galan Woods and Bobby Pulido.

Matthew Choi, The Washington Post

Killin is one of the 13 who signed on to the “Promise to America” initiative that commits candidates to a set of centrist principles, including capitalism, fiscal discipline, strong borders and pride in the United States. The group says centrist Democrats need to assert their own vision for the party as forcefully and effectively as the left.

Mica Soellner, Bloomberg Government

Democrats running in the reddest districts on this cycle’s map are warning their party not to blow a rare pickup opportunity by turning the midterms into a referendum on President Donald Trump.