Momentum and excitement in the Democratic Party is building on the left, a development that could benefit progressive candidates such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHarris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda Judd Gregg: The Kamala threat — the Californiaization of America GOP set to release controversial Biden report MORE (Mass.) and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (I-Vt.) in 2020.

The upset win in Nebraska by Kara Eastman over former Rep. Brad Ashford John (Brad) Bradley AshfordThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - First lady casts Trump as fighter for the 'forgotten' House Democrats target Midwestern GOP seats Tight race brewing in Nebraska House contest: internal poll MORE in a Democratic House primary sent a jolt of energy to liberal House candidates across the country, and is also being seen as a sign for the Democratic presidential race.

“There are two things going on: Voters want change and the progressive candidates represent change,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake.

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She said there is a “great deal of frustration” on the left that a moderate approach on politics hasn’t worked and hasn’t resulted in policy change in Washington.



“So a lot of people are saying, ‘Let’s try progressive policies for a change,’ ” she said.

Democratic strategist Brad Bannon described the evolving Democratic politics as a manifestation of the 2016 primary between Sanders and Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE.

While Sanders lost the Democratic nomination to Clinton, “he won the hearts and souls of rank-and-file Democrats,” Bannon said.

Democratic primary voters also love the progressive policies that Sanders is pushing, including a single-payer “Medicare for all” health system and a program to guarantee every American a job.

Ashford, who was backed by Washington Democrats, found himself on the wrong side of the left vs. center battle in Nebraska and of an anti-establishment wave building in both parties.

“[He] was on the wrong end of both trends,” Bannon said. “The hostility toward the political establishment that elected Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE is alive and well in the midterms. It will still be around in 2020.”

Ashford’s loss isn’t the only sign that the Democratic energy is with the left.

A Suffolk University poll out earlier this month found that Warren, 68, was the most popular potential 2020 candidate in New Hampshire, with 25.7 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE, 75, came in second at 20 percent, while the 76-year-old Sanders, in another positive sign for progressivism, came in third place with 12.5 percent.

At the Center for American Progress’s Ideas Conference in Washington last week, the program built toward a climactic speech by Warren, who was received like the main event at a music festival. Warren appealed to the crowd by discussing a policy platform and calling the Democratic Party the “party of ideas.”

Sanders — who allies have said wants to run in 2020 — has been crisscrossing the country to tout his policies on “protecting working families.”

Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice First presidential debate to cover coronavirus, Supreme Court Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (Calif.), 53, and Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (N.J.), 49, two other possible candidates in 2020, are also working to build their brands with the left.

Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who worked for Clinton, cautioned that if Democrats are going to run a 50-state strategy in 2020, they’ll have to appeal to a wide range of voters and not just the left.

“We can talk about policies in a way that are more inclusive without going so far to the left that we can’t win elections in Midwestern or rural areas,” he said.

The fractious 2016 race has left bitterness between centrists and the left.

Many Clinton allies say Sanders played a role in Clinton’s defeat, and former aides to the Democratic nominee still sneer at Sanders.

On Monday, Dan Schwerin, Clinton’s speechwriter who helped write her book “What Happened,” took to Twitter to pile on after a news report called Sanders’s grass-roots group “flailing.”

“Brutal,” Schwerin wrote.

Last week, Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill also gave short shrift to Sanders.

“I too want to see free college become a reality,” Merrill wrote on Twitter. “But I’ve done no more legislatively to accomplish that than Bernie Sanders. Thus, the title of my book will not include the word ‘win’ in it.”

Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic National Committee member, said the infighting isn’t as bad as it seems.

“I don’t see a party divided on philosophy,” Zimmerman said. “There are differences, but I don’t think they’re divisions. There’s a real focus on winning.”

Niall Stanage contributed.