The party may reclaim the US House and even Senate, but primary candidates are far from united on how to move forward
Across the country, in front yards and on main streets, at dairy breakfasts and inside breweries, voters are delivering a similar message to Democratic primary candidates: they’re tired of both parties, and sick of being ignored.
The Democratic party brand is bruised after its disastrous 2024 presidential loss. A botched review of the defeat by the Democratic National Committee, and a drawn-out process over releasing the so-called autopsy, created another round of handwringing over the party’s direction.
On doorsteps, though, the voters don’t bring up the autopsy, or the party’s brand, according to candidates nationwide. They want a party that will stand up to Trump, fight for their healthcare and housing, make life more affordable, rein in immigration agents, build up their schools, get the US out of war and lower gas prices, protect their jobs from AI, confront the climate crisis and prevent datacenters from coming in.
You see those two people in your party? Yeah Bernie and AOC? Fucking listen to them!
Watch any one of their “Fight The Oligarchy” tours in red districts and it’s clear that the problem isn’t that these districts are inherently unwinnable. The whole reason Trump sweeped in 2016 and got such loyalty is because he promised to fix problems that Democrats wouldn’t acknowledge.
The reason he won was voter fraud, I’m sure of it. Miraculously, millions of straight ticket Dems vote for Trump? Also musk " knows those voting machines better than anyone"
I really wanted to believe that, and I clung to that hope for months after the election. I don’t believe it any longer. With the way Kamala instantly conceded, and the fact that the Dems were overseeing the election.
Also consider the lack of a widespread resistance. In the face of boots-on-the-ground fascism marching through the streets, the anti-Trump coalition has had less than 100 people actually act in opposition to this regime. The anti-mask protests did more in defiance of day-to-day life in America than anyone and anything left of MAGA. Sure there are many voices complaining, but again that could be a loud minority.
As much as the Democrats and their allies want to make this seem like Trump’s wins are a fluke, the environment just doesn’t show it. Yes, there are blue folks, and according to the US election a bit under half of the country opposed Donald Trump in 2024. If the polls were rigged to any significant degree, MAGA would have had riots before they could get their “Alligator Auschwitz” built, or any other concentration camps; and you wouldn’t have Flock surveillance cameras erected across the nation.
Of course there are some fighting back; but we are a minority right now. The majority of Americans simply do not care about their fellow citizens enough to defy the government in any way. Hell, I’d argue the majority of Americans do not care about their citizens or their environment. Blame social media, or the political incompetency, or “chemicals in the water”—whatever the reason, it’s evident every day.