Editors’ Note: The Difference Between Governing and Campaigning

For more than a year, the "ideas primary" has been simmering beneath the surface of Democratic politics. After Kamala Harris' disastrous defeat, factions throughout the party produced their own diagnoses for what went wrong and how to win next time. But as Trump's poll numbers have cratered—largely as a result of his own demented policies, from ICE brutality to a seemingly intractable war with Iran—some factions have begun to think bigger. If the stink of Trump's failures hangs around the neck of whatever Republican runs in 2028—as Biden hung around the neck of Harris—then a Democratic presidential candidate may have the opening to run an ambitious agenda, rather than scraping for every last median voter in Wisconsin.

This is the ideas primary: the contest within the liberal intellectual class to put forward visions of possible futures, which will go on to shape the Democratic presidential primary—much as Medicare For All or the Green New Deal were first developed in these elite circles. One such attempt is Project 2029. In their own words:

We’re a group of everyday citizens building a plan of action for a future that is strong, kind, and prosperous. We’re developing immediately actionable policies to reform our country on Day One in 2029, and beyond. We’re shifting the focus from outrage to action, working towards a future worth fighting for. Small, incremental changes won’t cut it. Our bold plans demand fairness, dignity, and justice for all.

So far, so good. What are these policies? I'll focus on housing, since this is a policy area I know at least a little about. They begin by declaring "Housing is a human right," citing the United Nations. After a bit of throat-clearing about the housing crisis in America, they get to the policies. Number one with a bullet? Stop institutional investors from renting out single-family homes.