Democrats must make it clear what they’re fighting for—and fight for it
By: Shane McCauley
With the 2024 election coming up, Democrats are understandably worried about the potential consequences of a second Trump term. For this reason, the party has attempted to frame 2024 as a referendum on Donald Trump and his policies, as it did in 2020. The Democrats seemingly have no reason to pursue another strategy, especially after a streak of special election wins. But to ensure success in 2024 and beyond, the Democratic Party must establish a progressive, populist platform that actually aims to solve the systemic problems sweeping the nation—rather than merely holding onto power.
To solve its enthusiasm problem—a lack of passionate support among young, marginalized, and working class voters—the Democratic Party must regain its title as the party of the working people. In crucial swing states like Georgia, voters often feel that the Democratic Party does not understand their needs. And these voters have a point: housing prices and poverty continue to increase in rural America—even as the Biden administration attempts to fight them. To regain voters like these, Democrats should make a populist appeal and turn Republicans’ attacks against them. Point out that, at every turn, Republicans seek to dismantle legislation like wealth taxes. Point out that prominent so-called “populists” like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Ron DeSantis graduated from Ivy League schools and take money from special interests. Point out that Trump’s presidency and tax cuts made billionaires richer than ever. Once the Democrats make it clear the Republican Party does not represent the working people, it will be much easier to regain the rural voters that helped Barack Obama win in 2008 and 2012, then switched to Trump in 2016 and 2020. After all, studies have found these voters hold progressive economic views.
Some may argue that a left-wing, populist appeal won’t help gain rural voters who voted for a candidate as far right as Trump in 2016. But Democrats arguably have a cultural problem, not a political one. Many voters see the Democratic Party as one of the “woke” elite, yet support populist economic policies, as evidenced by the existence of Sanders-to-Trump voters in 2016. A key difference between Sanders’ campaign and other left-wing Democratic campaigns is he supported the same ideas other Democrats did—like rights for women and queer people—but framed the election as a whole as an economic issue. In this way, he appealed to all disaffected voters, while avoiding being pigeonholed as a so-called “woke,” elitist liberal. This shift in messaging shows a possible path forward for Democrats in the future. It’s disingenuous to say that Democrats’ problem is “identity politics” because it is enormously important to fight for marginalized identities. But to find political success, Democrats must dispel the false, dangerous idea that fighting for these groups is somehow contrary to the interests of white working-class voters. The best way to do so is to amp up their economic messaging.
Of course, much of the criticism labeling the Democratic Party as one of the elite is for good reason—even if the same thing is true of the Republican Party. Before the 2018 midterms, Nancy Pelosi expressed support for “multiply[ing] the power of small donors” and decreasing the influence of “wealthy interests.” Then, a few weeks later, she utilized a swath of “liberal” Wall Street donors to squash a progressive challenger for Speaker of the House. Democrats also spent 1.5 billion dollars in dark money to win the 2020 election, even more than Republicans’ $900 million. It’s important for Democrats to point out that Republicans are no party of the working class. But doing so would be hypocritical—and unconducive to meaningful change—unless they themselves reject dark money and begin fighting for common people.
Democrats have dug their own grave by failing to keep their promises, again and again. As a result of their inability to align themselves with the working class, they face an unenviable task in November and beyond. To regain success, Democrats must restore their reputation as the party of the common people—then deliver on their promises.
A rally of 2020 Democratic primary candidates. Why the Democrats are losing working class voters | Think (kera.org)
