With media attention fixed on the Republicans’ Donald Trump problem, a more consequential political trend is playing out that will outlast the showman’s political lifespan. Rank-and-file Democrats, coming off of consecutive election victories by the first black president, are sharply divided on race, even though all of their candidates are white.

The Democratic 2016 primary resembles the politics of gentrifying, liberal cities such as Washington, D.C. White gentry progressives have their own set of priorities and their candidate in the 2016 race — a septuagenarian socialist senator from Vermont.