How Zohran Wins

Photo: Jack Califano

Last summer, a loose network of the city’s political operatives who consider themselves members of what they call “the competent left” — progressive but also determined to actually win elections — were in despair. Lefty incumbents and challengers were losing to moderates in primaries, Donald Trump looked set to win back the White House, and the Democratic Party was rapidly distancing itself from its liberal base as if its taint could affect the whole party. That’s...