He’s back, and everyone’s pointing fingers on who let him out. After more than thirty four felony counts, an insurrection, and a campaign built on ostracism, many are asking how Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the Democratic Party as a whole failed to secure the election. This includes all the elections in the country, where we saw the United States elect a majority Republican Congress.
Already there are conspiracies circulating among Dems claiming a rigged election, missing ballots, as well as accusations of ‘party betrayal’ by minorities who voted for Trump – some dangerous deja vu from 2020. As much as people may wish the opposite, Harris has already conceded, and the election is over. The important conversation needed now is more of a reckoning, one where the Democratic Party reevaluates its strategies and asks itself: how did we lose?
What Went Wrong?
First and foremost, Biden was elected as the only other option to Trump. It is more so that Trump lost in 2020 than Biden won. So he and his Vice-President, Kamala Harris, were already off to a bad start, known only as the ticket that beat Trump. Over the following four years, the Biden administration did little to market themselves as anything but “the lesser evil” to the American people, which could be seen throughout the presidential race. They simply presented themselves as the better option, without actually delving into their policies and work in office.
That is perhaps the most unfortunate part, because the United States actually did exceptionally well under the Democrats. Unemployment reached its lowest point in 54 years, the U.S became the largest exporter of oil and gas, inflation in the country is phenomenal compared to other large economies – in sum, the economy did great under Biden and Harris despite what critics may say. What went wrong was the Democratic Party’s inability to market these universally important subjects to the American people, and their focus on identity politics and the threat to democracy only pandered to voters that were already secured.
The Future
From Lady Gaga to Nobel Peace Laureates, the first thing that Democrats need to start doing is shifting themselves away from the image of elitism that has haunted the party since its inception. Rhetoric around its voters being “educated” or “wealthier” only serves to alienate rural people without college degrees (who Obama won by seven points and Hillary lost by 14). Just take a look at Truth Social, Donald Trump’s version of X, or any other right-wing platform and you’ll see that elitism is one of the main critiques many Republicans have of the Democratic Party (ironic considering Trump’s billionaire status and “Republican-only” platform). So instead of boasting celebrities and big names at their rallies, they should reach back to their roots and put working class Americans on stage. Instead of depending on cities and degrees, it’s time for politicians to go out into the countryside and bridge the gap that rural Americans clearly feel with their government.
Beyond shying away from the exclusive or demeaning image, Dems also need to tone down the identity politics. While encouraging diversity and uplifting minorities still remains a crucial goal in the United States, Democrats tend to turn it into tokenism and fail to actually enact efficient solutions. Black unemployment remains rampant, women make less on the dollar, and LGBTQ+ suicide rates are still concerning – especially in Blue states. There needs to be a new strategy of strategically and subtly pursuing tackling these issues while marketing big picture goals to Americans – such as broad economic metrics. At the end of the day, the Biden administration should be known for its incredible work on the American economy rather than branded as “woke” or “DEI.”
Lastly, beyond policy issues, the party needs to work on its character building. One of the issues with Vice President Harris’ campaign was that she was unknown to the American public, despite having been in national office for four years. Even when rumours circulated about Biden stepping down, there was a lot of uncertainty about who would take his place because there simply were not any worthwhile Democratic candidates who could hold a flame to the persona that is Donald Trump. These next four years, the party and its politicians need to really put their weight in shining light on potential stars. People like California Governor Gavin Newsom or New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez could be the MVPs in the political arena – if only the Dems could organise and market them. Lack of unity and a concrete strategy is really what cost them this last election.
Conclusion
November 4th should serve as a strong wake up call to the Democratic Party. They can no longer rely on being the “lesser of two evils” in a country that has become disillusioned with their elitism and identity politics. If there is to be a Blue Wave in the future, it must come in the aftermath of some internal reckoning, where Dem politicians make the effort to reconnect with rural Americans without degrees, and begin focusing on more universal issues like the economy.
The last thing the United States needs right now is finger-pointing and accusations. Black people didn’t cost Harris the election, nor did latinos or white women. The blame lies in the politicians. Their failure to come up with refreshing and engaging strategies is purely their own fault. Trump spells a tumultuous and scandalous four years for the U.S, but have faith in the American people. Have faith that they will learn, grow, and that above all empathy and patriotism will prevail in 2028. Have faith that beliefs are not set in stone.
