A lot of introspection
This conclusion requires Democrats to do a lot of soul-searching to find their soul – and their place on the political spectrum. Some will say that the party has moved too far to the left (or the far left) under the influence of strong personalities like New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and that wokism, in particular, has exasperated many more moderate voters.
We can just as easily argue that the Democratic Party has moved too far to the right, cutting itself off from its historic base, the working class. The refusal of some unions to support Kamala Harris was a warning signal that the candidate and her team did not sufficiently heed. As they were unable to address what was clearly voters’ primary concern: the economy.
Of course, this was paradoxical. The American economy is, by all accounts, in very good shape. Unemployment is at its lowest and rising wages have offset inflation, which is under control. Consumers nevertheless note that eggs cost three times more than when Donald Trump was president. It was the psychological impact, more than the economic reality, which guided the voter. “This election will remain that of the price of eggs,” comments, disillusioned, a Democrat from Philadelphia.
American election: how Donald Trump managed to win a bet that seemed impossible
Bad packaging
The fact remains that the Democratic Party did not succeed in selling its solutions, even though the Republican candidate only had slogans to oppose by promising to “repair” an economy… in good condition. “Republican states are clearly favorable to Democratic policies,” notes Dean Phillips, citing the adoption by referendum, in Missouri or Alaska, of bills raising the minimum wage. “But they elect someone who opposes it…” And he concludes: “We have good products, but terrible packaging and distribution.”
The company will therefore have to be restructured if it wants to avoid bankruptcy. By reconnecting with its fundamental pillars, believes Democratic consultant Max Burns: the working world, the suburban middle class, African-Americans and Spanish-speakers. The break with the latter is probably the most scathing setback for the party. Trump was the first Republican in 120 years, Burns notes, to win in Starr County, Texas, where the population is majority Spanish-speaking.
The disconnect with 18-30 year olds is also worrying and, once again, confusing. Young people did not recognize themselves in the candidacy of Joe Biden, but rather than rejoicing at the arrival of Kamala Harris, they set their sights on a man who will be the oldest president to enter the White House. Inexplicably, the Democrats have deserted social networks, the main, if not only, source of information for this electorate, leaving Donald Trump to occupy the field. One of his online interviews was seen by 50 million Internet users…
