Editor’s note: This column is a continuation of the Dec. 25 op-ed feature (“We asked Congressional candidates for their views — and here’s what they told us”) in which we published statements by candidates for the 3rd Congressional District race.

The Democratic Party has always taken pride in being a “big tent,” but that classification has often brought with it the heavy burden of developing policy and strategy to satisfy disparate ideologies. Historically, this has led to a retreat toward “moderacy” as a defensible middle ground that prioritizes incrementalism over impact. However, recent years have exposed the cost of this caution: It allows systemic harms to persist on the hollow promise of gradual change. For those currently suffering under the weight of inequity, the wait is far too great. A party true to its principles cannot simply promise eventual justice; it must work fervently and unapologetically to dismantle systems of oppression. It must embrace a bold, progressive ethos.

Progressive ideology is not a radical departure from Democratic values; it is the realization of them. It is the belief that the march toward equity must be prioritized over the comfort of tradition. To be progressive is to be impolitic enough to demand the removal of the boot of oppression from our neighbors’ necks. It means being a warrior for the betterment of the many, rather than a guardian for the few who hold power, wealth, and a voice. For a party that has, at times, lost touch with its constituents, the only way forward is to demonstrate an unyielding commitment to these core principles by elevating candidates who break the mold. We can no longer subscribe to an orthodoxy of appeasement or a model that only validates “establishment” candidates: leaders who have been scrubbed of new ideas and beaten into submission. To be the party of the future, we must throw out the old playbook.

A critical example of the need for this shift is the looming economic displacement caused by artificial intelligence and automation. We are facing a massive reshaping of the labor force that threatens to leave millions behind. While some legislative remedies may slow this transition, many experts agree the evolution is inevitable. The Democratic Party must lead by developing a robust framework for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) to mitigate this impact and protect our most vulnerable. A UBI would not only provide an immediate solution to modern poverty, but as AI–driven automation creates labor displacement, it will transition from a policy choice to an economic necessity. A party focused on not rocking the boat and moderacy above all else will not do the difficult work of exploring a UBI; that mission can only be undertaken by a party willing to challenge convention and prioritize human dignity over economic dogmas.

I see myself as a reflection of what this party can, and must, become. A candidate with fresh ideas, unencumbered by party traditions, idol reverence, or owed favors. My background, philosophy, and problem–solving mindset are exactly what is needed to move the party in a forward–focused direction that delivers for the hurting masses.

What I offer Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District is a mindset steeped in data and analysis. I am obsessed with building systems that work, not based on hunches or “hopes and dreams,” but on a deep understanding of the people, processes, and technologies that drive them. I recognize that we cannot create systems and write laws that depend solely on “good people;” we must design them to function effectively even when those with ill–intent hold the wheel. I am a progressive candidate primed for a new world of challenges, ready to deliver actual, data–driven solutions for the residents of the 3rd District and the country at large.

Karl Morris is an associate professor of computer science at Temple University.