By Hank Bartholomew
Before we begin, I should profess that I am undoubtably an ameteur in the field of politics. Any real political strategists could likely tear anything I say apart in a matter of seconds. The closest thing I’ve done to studying political debate in strategy is watching Stephan A. Smith berating his colleagues (although maybe that might actually count as relevant experience in a few years). All this is to say that I am a political novice. But I do have one significant qualification: I am an American who has witnessed the struggles of the Democratic party over the last few years. I can’t offer refined philosophical thought or complex political and legal terminology. But I can give the insight I have gathered from observing politics over the last few years–and my own beliefs on what the roadmap of the Democratic party should look like in the coming years.
To begin, American liberals need to find a common identity–that is, a unifying thread, most likely ideological. As of now, Democrats are fractured, split into several different groups. There are Bernie Sanders diehards, environmentalists, the younger wave following Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even some individuals who just want anyone but Trump. These people all want the same general thing–the return of Democrats to political prominence–but once that goal has been achieved, they can not agree on what the next order of business should be, leading to in-fighting and squabbles between democrats. In this case, it appears that Democrats are putting the cart before the horse; they are worrying about policy without any actual political power to do anything. Don’t get me wrong, clear public policies are important to a degree, but liberals should not be focusing all of their energy and the policies they would enact if they were in office–they should get in office first. And to get into office, differences must be put aside. A common front must be presented. Conservatives won in 2024 because they united entirely behind Donald Trump. Sure, this is not an example of throwing everyone’s weight behind an ideology (although in a way, perhaps it is), but it is still an example of a political party putting their power behind a singular entity. Democrats need to do the same. A house divided can not stand; political parties are no different.
Assuming the left is capable of presenting a united front, the question then emerges of what the ground game should look like–or, more concisely, how to attack Trump. The current president and the GOP are essentially one organism, meaning that however the public perception of Trump changes–be it negatively or positively–the public perception of the conservative party will also change. In a way, this can be helpful for Democrats; they can direct all of their effort towards combating Trump, and smaller races will take care of themselves.
With the midterms gradually creeping toward us, Democrats need to step up their criticism of Trump and his policies–and do so in the center of the public eye. In my opinion, the most successful tactic would be to focus on the economy. Trump’s tariffs and government layoffs have contributed to a shaky economy and an unsteady stock market. This is the issue that can bring Americans to the ballot box. Indeed, in 2024 it was the economy that undoubtedly landed Trump in the oval office; Americans, seeking greener pastures, wanted a change from the mild and gradual economic growth of the Biden administration. The economy is the issue that is–and will always be–at the forefront of the American mind. Yes, there are several ways to go after Trump, but to the average American citizen, foreign policy, legal issues, and potential threats to democracy pale in comparison to the promise of money in their pockets. If Democrats recognize this fact, they will win big in 2026–but they need to start soon.
The other big question is who the left should put on the ticket for 2028. In my opinion, these concerns are pretty irrelevant at this point, but I’ll throw in my two cents anyway. In my eyes, it doesn’t really matter who is put forward, provided they are a good public speaker and relatively well-known. Trump showed us–twice–that you don’t need a flawless (or even good) record to become a successful politician. Again, personal scandals aren’t what people care about. If the Democrats can find someone who’s somewhat charismatic and knows their way around the economy–or at least can pretend that they do–they’ll be fine.
The Democratic party isn’t crumbling, and its demise is not imminent. Yes, there have been a few missteps and mistakes, but with a few adjustments there’s no reason the balance of power in Washington couldn’t again shift. We’ll find out soon enough if it will.