However, I think we're diverging on how to tackle fixing it. I mentioned bipartisan because the OP said Wyden/Paul. This would also fragment the center, which would allow the left to take more of a reign.

Where I'm from, the conservatives have a majority due to left vote splitting amongst the liberals, green, and new democrats. But with such right wing fragmentation happening in the states, what really needs to happen is not a fragmentation of the left, but one of the middle IMO.

Personally, I think this would accomplish the goal, as if you had a bipartisan party with good policies, you would then have a very confused and hypocritical left (Democrats) who would then start having to actually pander to its base instead of the imagined center.

There's not much hope of a third party in Presidential politics, but congress and state level could work out pretty well, with funding.