Some prominent figures in Hollywood, who have previously engaged in political activities, are reportedly stepping back from their support for the Democrat Party this year due to the party’s struggles with its radical left faction.
According to the Washington Sun, many of the key players responsible for helping the Democrats regain control of the House in 2018 are not interested in repeating that success in 2026.
Insiders known for assisting the Democrats with speeches, stage presence coaching, and rapid-response efforts seem disinterested in participating in the upcoming political landscape, as noted in the report.
Gregg Hurwitz, a novelist and screenwriter who has often aided the Democrats, expressed that the party lacks a coherent direction this year.
“The Democratic Party right now is torn in a couple directions, and some of those directions I’m no longer willing to work for or countenance, and so I’m a lot more sparing about it,” Hurwitz shared.
Hurwitz was a part of a group of Hollywood leftists who played a role in helping the Democrats reclaim 40 congressional seats in 2018. They contributed by producing advertisements, writing speeches, and creating messaging strategies. However, after supporting Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips, who raised questions about Joe Biden’s capabilities, Hurwitz stated he is stepping away from party support due to the backlash against those who critiqued Biden, including threats of blacklisting.
The writer attributed this shift to the growing socialist influence within the party, expressing a lack of interest in aiding Democrats unless they quell this internal conflict.
Marshall Herskovitz, another screenwriter recognized for shows such as Thirtysomething and My So-Called Life, has similarly distanced himself from the Democrats. He described the party leadership as “ossified” and indicated he no longer wishes to engage with the party machinery, contrasting that with his previous efforts in 2018, 2020, and 2022, where he assisted with campaign materials.
He articulated that the party has shown an inability to respond effectively to Trumpism, noting, “Since Trump was elected again, and when I saw what Democrats were doing and not doing, I just came to realize that if there were going to be any answers, it was going to come from outside the party.”
The Washington Sun also highlighted critiques from former supporters regarding the party’s language, which they found awkward and out of touch, criticizing terms like “unhoused” and “justice system-impacted individual.”
These Hollywood figures have cautioned candidates against using words like “affordability,” arguing that such terminology fails to connect with the average American.
Additionally, some insiders expressed disappointment when Nancy Pelosi suggested that the party is not reliant on Hollywood for messaging, remarking that when briefed on their input, she claimed it lacked relevance.
Pelosi’s office commented that the results of sessions with Hollywood insiders were not considered applicable to candidates.
A Democrat consultant took a jab at Hollywood’s involvement, stating, “I don’t need them for comms strategy, I need them for their fucking fame and money. After all, the last thing any campaign needs is another cook in the kitchen when writing talking points.”
