For all the recent attention bestowed on Democratic Party progressives, there's new evidence so-called centrists aren't going to just fade away.

Not with former Vice President Joe Biden taking a commanding early lead over the many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls running to his left. National polls released Tuesday cast Biden well ahead of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and others vying for the party's nomination.

In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont scored his own early victory this week over progressives in the legislature clamoring for him to raise taxes on the state's wealthiest residents. The General Assembly's Finance Committee is backing away, at least temporarily, from a 2 percent capital gains tax hike for top income earners.

With weeks, if not months, of state budget negotiations, still ahead, there's plenty of time for liberals in the legislature to wrestle back momentum. The same thing goes in the presidential race.  The question is where should they pick their battles.

This week, we set out to gauge where the true center lies in Democratic Party politics on issues ranging from taxes  to healthcare.

For all the recent attention bestowed on Democratic Party progressives, there's new evidence so-called centrists aren't going to just fade away.
Not with former Vice President Joe Biden taking a commanding early lead over the many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls running to his left. <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/441313-poll-biden-surges-in-primary-polls" data-cke-saved-href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/441313-poll-biden-surges-in-primary-polls">National polls released Tuesday</a> cast Biden well ahead of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and others vying for the party's nomination.
In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont scored his own early victory this week over progressives in the legislature clamoring for him to raise taxes on the state's wealthiest residents. The General Assembly's Finance Committee is <a href="https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Democrats-back-off-capital-gain-tax-increase-13807545.php" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Democrats-back-off-capital-gain-tax-increase-13807545.php">backing away</a>, at least temporarily, from a 2 percent capital gains tax hike for top income earners.
With weeks, if not months, of state budget negotiations, still ahead, there's plenty of time for liberals in the legislature to wrestle back momentum. The same thing goes in the presidential race.&nbsp; The question is where should they pick their battles.
This week, we set out to gauge where the true center lies in Democratic Party politics on issues ranging from taxes&nbsp; to healthcare.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

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