Centrist Democrats gathered at WelcomeFest 2025 in the Hamilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., to publicly challenge the party's progressive wing, arguing that left-leaning demands and activist groups are hindering the party's ability to win elections. The event was described as the 'CPAC of the center.' Speakers at the event, including Representative Jared Golden of Maine and Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, emphasized the need for pragmatism and candidate quality, with discussions focused on recruiting candidates with high 'Wins Above Replacement' (WAR) scores to appeal to swing voters. Matthew Yglesias and analyst Lakshya Jain presented data-driven arguments, and a panel included Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Adam Gray. The conference, organized by Welcome PAC and supported by groups such as the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition, featured criticism of activist organizations such as Indivisible, with polling data presented to demonstrate voter skepticism toward issues like electric vehicle mandates and 'defund the police.' The event was disrupted by left-wing protesters chanting 'Free Palestine,' with organizers responding by playing a Carly Simon song. Notably, one organizer wore a Joe Manchin football jersey. Organizers announced the formation of the Blue Dog Action Fund, a new nonprofit and super PAC aimed at supporting moderate candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms. Adam Jentleson's new think tank was also mentioned.