CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's a wedge in progressive politics in Cleveland.

The divide is likely to ratchet up even more today as local leaders upset at the breakdown of the deal to renovate the Quicken Loans Arena call out their opposition. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, business leaders and local pastors are set to take on the progressive grassroots Greater Cleveland Congregations at a press conference at noon.

On one side, the old guard - mostly entrenched elected officials and the business community who are more moderate and practical when it comes to governing. On the other, the progressives - new members and some members of the clergy tired of fealty to the centrists and what they see as capitulation to business interests.

And caught in the middle are the party loyalists who just want to see Democrats do well.

But the split over The Q is more emblematic of a growing dissension within the Democratic Party itself.

The Q deal

Most recently, those divisions are on display over the death of the deal to renovate The Q using public money. Backed by Mayor Frank Jackson, City Council President Kevin Kelley, Fudge and a slew of elected officials, business leaders and religious figures, it seemed like a done deal.

That is, until the progressive wing came out in full force.

The Greater Cleveland Congregations led a crusade to quash the deal after demanding a $140 million contribution to mental health facilities. They presented petitions to get the issue on the ballot in November, but were blocked. GCC went to court and won the right to get on the ballot.

But delays and opposition led Gilbert to pull out of the deal. And not everyone applauded the religious group's big win.

"Stay on the pulpit," said Norman Edwards, American Center for Economic Equality/Black Contractors Group executive director. "Let the political leaders and the developers push the city forward. We've been out here a long time protesting and demonstrating for diversity and inclusion and they put out a bunch of lies to the public."

Kind words were few and far between for GCC on Wednesday and will likely be even worse on Thursday. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Democrat from Warrensville Heights, and other pastors from around the area are planning a press conference noon Thursday to "condemn the dishonest actions" of the GCC.

Edwards was perhaps the most furious, describing GCC's demands as a shakedown of developers. He runs a program to train the underprivileged in the trades with the hopes of getting them jobs. He's worked with Gilbert multiple times, he said.

Now, those jobs won't come and he planned to strike back at the GCC, protesting the pastors' churches, including the Rev. Jawanza Colvin's Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.

"How can a black preacher take away black jobs?" Edwards said. "Think about that for a minute. You're fighting against black economics and he's not even from here. They're fighting a fight that they know nothing about."

Colvin did not respond to requests for comment, but Pastor Richard Gibson of Elizabeth Baptist Church, a member of the GCC, said he wanted a resolution that worked for everyone.

"I think on several issues in the past, persons have taken different positions," he said. "This might be a little bit different in that because of the dollars involved, there's more intensity. But I still remain hopeful that there's an opportunity for persons to come together. How we get there is a very significant issue that has to be dealt with in the near term."

But appeasing everyone has been nigh impossible in progressive politics these days.

Parallels

The Q deal is just the latest in a trend nationwide of purity tests finding their way into local politics.

It's reminiscent of the 2010 uprising of the ultra-conservative Tea Party faction within the GOP. Upset at the election of Democratic President Barack Obama and the passage of the Affordable Care Act - more commonly known as Obamacare - the Tea Party revolted from within the Republican Party, which they felt gave too much by way of working with Democrats.

The Tea Party became a purity test for some conservatives. Raising taxes for anything without cuts was a nonstarter. Shrinking the size of government was a must. And, especially, Obamacare needed to be dumped.

Anything remotely representing compromise was not an option.

The Tea Party has been a major headache for many of the more traditional Republicans, threatening to not increase the debt limit, shutting down the government and generally holding legislation hostage since becoming a significant political player.

Like the Republicans, Democrats have shown cracks for some time. Crushing defeats in 2010 and 2014 wiped out many of the younger generation in the party and deflated any residual excitement Democrats had left from President Barack Obama.

Republican President Donald Trump's win in 2016 took a jackhammer to that foundation. Progressives have decried the party structure as akin to smoke-filled rooms with anointed candidates and unwavering positions on issues like Wall Street and health care that don't go far enough.

"A lot of it started with, quite frankly, with the Berniecrats," Fudge said. "We've always had progressive people in our party. We've always had progressive people in the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. But the progressive caucus started as a result of (Bernie Sanders') run in 2016."

Party chair elections

The differences between the two factions were publicly evident at the recent elections for party chair. County Councilwoman Shontel Brown came out of the balloting victorious, the first black person and the first woman to chair the Democratic Party.

What might seem like a resounding moment of victory for the party was actually marred by infighting.

Accusations flew from a challenger to Brown, Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor K. Elkins, about insider pressure, including threats of primary challengers, disinformation and cutting off access.

Fudge, who supported Brown, said she and others in the party simply didn't believe Elkins and couldn't find any evidence of intimidation.

Fudge added she didn't think there was a divide either at the party level or the grassroots level. Just a difference of opinion, especially as it pertains to The Q.

However, she did say a sort of Tea Party on the left was forming within Cuyahoga County Democratic politics - purity tests and all.

"I don't think it's a good thing," she said. "I think it's one thing to have a different view. I think it's another thing to want to just destroy and to tear something up to get attention. I think if they want to be a part of the party, we want them to be a part of the party."

And purity tests, like the kind that caused a rift in the Republican Party, were already being administered, she said.

Pushing back

The fight over The Q isn't the first instance of this friendly fire among progressives. Earlier this year, the Service Employees International Union backed a $15 minimum wage for the city.

Mayor Jackson opposed that initiative over concerns it would make Cleveland uncompetitive. It was the first chip in the growing cracks of what was supposed to be a united Democratic base.

Both sides continue to talk about a solution without much idea of how to get there. And feelings between the two sides are only getting uglier.

Fudge said she planned to lay the blame for The Q - and any residual effects that might happen like the Cavs leaving Cleveland - at the feet of GCC during her Thursday press conference with other religious leaders.

"Almost every other pastoral group in this community is on The Q side," she said. "There's only one - GCC - that's on the other. I would say those who are for this position far outnumber those who are against it."

Gibson said he'd like to find a resolution as well, though lacked any

form of

plan on how to get there.

"Even if you go back to the elections last November, there were significant divisions as well," Gibson said. "The community is going to be strongest if we start with the common interest and work from there."

Edwards, meanwhile, lacked any optimism at all.

"We have a huge problem now and it's only going to get worse," he said.