Who is leading the Democrat party? Following former Vice President Kamala Harris’ stunning defeat to President Donald Trump, the party appears directionless and uncertain about its next steps.
The Democrats want to stage a massive resistance to Trump and his MAGA policies, and the party can point to some courtroom successes against the America First agenda.
However, the Democrats have also struggled to articulate policy options and a new ideology for the years ahead. They can only hope that Trump’s trade war with China implodes and the Republicans lose big during the midterm elections of 2026.
Speeches from Socialists Are Not the Answer for Democrats
Sensing calamity, the Democrats sent two of their most radical elected officials on a private jet barnstorming tour around the United States recently. The crowds were heavy, and the enthusiasm was intense. Still, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are socialists at heart, which makes their mission to appeal to everyday Americans challenging. Sanders has run for president and lost twice. AOC is too radical to lead a national movement. Both support divisive and mostly unpopular positions such as the Green New Deal, open borders, and forgiveness of student loans.
The speaking tour focused on the United States entering a period in which oligarchs are in control. This suggests that mega-billionaire Elon Musk has an outsize influence in the Republican Party. That may be true, but the Democrats have their own billionaire “oligarchs” like George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (the wealthiest governor in America) who hold sway.
Weak Leadership on Capitol Hill
Democratic leadership in Washington is struggling. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is at the most unpopular level of support he has ever seen. He could meet a primary challenge from AOC someday. Democrats believe Schumer has sold out to Trump and cannot mount a strong defense against MAGA. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is an amiable fellow but is seen as an empty suit and a lightweight.
Other Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill seem to be “go along-get alongs,” not the type of rabble-rousers with the ability to fight back against Trump and Congressional Republicans. There are even efforts to primary some Democratic legislators and replace them with “fighters.” This has political analysts wondering if there will be a civil war in the Democratic party between hardened leftists and those who do not have the backbone to stand against Trump.
What to Say and When to Say It
Then there are rhetorical and messaging problems. Democrat strategists want course and shrill language, some of it obscene, to balance against the ferocity of the MAGA world that dominates discourse on social media and podcasts. This effort is led by Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, who often curses at foes such as GOP personalities like Georgia lawmaker Marjorie Taylor-Green and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The passion is intense. Unfortunately, raw language may rile up the base, but it is unlikely to win over moderates who value soft-spoken compromise and bipartisanship.
Democrats Have Enjoyed Success in the Judicial Branch
The Democrats, however, are winning in the courts. Federal district judges and even the Supreme Court are ruling against the Trump agenda, thwarting his efforts to deport illegal immigrants and reform the voting system by purging non-citizens from voter rolls. Checks and balances against Trump have been effective, but this still means that Democrats are the party of obstruction with few policy solutions.
Protesting Without a Clear Message
Then there are the street-level Democrats. Numerous protests have cropped up around the United States, held on weekends by disaffected leftists. I have seen these in person, and I could not make any sense of them. This is called the “Hands Off” movement, but it appears to lack a central theme. Dissent ranges from the Palestinian and Israeli question to leaving Social Security alone.
Many of the protesters are Baby Boomers, while Conservative leaders such as Charlie Kirk and his band of activists for young people representing Turning Point USA have just as much energy. The Democrats worry that young people, especially college students, are more likely to identify as conservatives.
The Democratic Party must create a message that resonates with moderates and Independents. The base is united against Trump, that is certain. However, angry rhetoric, speeches against oligarchies, and pointless protests are unlikely to win many elections.
However, Trump is often erratic and shoots himself in the foot. The trade war with China is a situation in which nonpartisan voters can agree has been damaging. This is the unforced error that could benefit the Left. The financial markets have sputtered this year, hurting the retirement accounts of people who would typically not vote for Democrats. Trump’s approval ratings have also dipped.
There is thus time for Democrats to turn things around. The first need is leadership among the grassroots and in Washington. AOC and Sanders do not speak for independents. Course language from Jasmine Crockett will do nothing to get moderates to the polls. Protests without guiding principles and policy options could be a waste of time unless real solutions emerge from the grassroots.
The Democrats are a rudderless party at war with themselves. Until this changes, they may find that electoral wins will be harder to come by.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: A Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott, advising the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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