The Democratic party is having a serious identity crisis. Even before the devastating loss against President Donald Trump in 2024, Americans have slowly but surely began to turn their back on the party once led by former President Barack Obama.
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Now, Democrats are at a crossroads, and it still doesn’t seem like Democrats are any closer to organizing in preparation for the 2026 midterms or convincing the American people of why should lead. As the midterm elections slowly creep up, folks like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believe the country will flip blue, according to the Guardian. But there’s a chance the Democrats’ internal struggles will be their own demise.
Trying to Beat Trump
Since 2015, the Democrats have yet to truly address the elephant in the room: Trump. He exploded onto the scene, representing a fresh view of what it means to be a Republican.
As he gained support across the country, Democrats largely failed to come up with a solution to stop him, which we witnessed during former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed presidential runs against him. While historic, these attempts against Trump were met by the MAGA leader’s influx of controversial executive orders, mass deportation agenda and tension which flooded America…and a new label on the Democratic party.
‘Weak’ Persona
The narrative about weak Democrats has stood strong since Obama left office in 2016. Americans have continued to express their disappointment with the Democratic Party evident in polling data suggesting the same thing: Americans believe Democrats are weak in the face of Trump.
Democratic leaders like Minority House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have faced accusations of being too passive in the face of Trump, especially when it came down to the government shutdown and the Big, Beautiful Bill — the summer GOP-led spending bill.
An October Pew Research study found nearly 75 percent of Americans are frustrated with the Democratic party. Still, we have Democrats like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett determined to counteract the narrative against the party. Others like New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani also represent a new wave of leadership in the blue party…but every Democrats isn’t ready for a change.
Rifts Within the Party
While MAGA continues to rip apart from the seams after defections from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and podcaster Candace Owens, the Democratic Party is experiencing a similar tear.
The rise of Democratic socialism through Democrats like Mamdani, V.T. Sen. Bernie Sanders and N.Y. Rep. Alexandria “AOC” Ocasio-Cortez have traditional Democrats divided. House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer were slow to support Mamdani ahead of his mayoral run in New York, suggesting there’s uncertainty about how to address the rising sub-genre in the blue party.
Obamacare Subsidies
Speaking of all Democrats not being on the same page…
Remember when eight Democrats defied the rest of the party to vote to open the government? That was in November. Up until that point, Democrats were holding out in order to extend subsidies for Obamacare set to end on Dec. 31. That was until the government opened up with Obamacare still up in the air. It’s this issue that many insiders say could cause more tension in Congress, according to the Hill.
Lack of Leadership
The leaders of Republican party are already preparing for the end of Trump’s term. Meanwhile, there’s still no word on leading faces in the Democratic party, and it’s this unclear leadership that could spell trouble for Democrats after Trump leaves.
Still, the November blue wave gives Democrats hope that they can continue their momentum into the new year. The Trump administration, in the meantime, continues to check off boxes on its agenda, ensuring serious change before Democrats ever have the chance to write any names on the midterm ballot sheets.
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