Since the 2024 election, the Democratic Party has found itself, as a former Democratic President from Georgia might put it, in a state of malaise. The President usually leads the party, but in the absence of the sitting president, the former presidential nominee often becomes the party’s prominent voice. For better or worse, Kamala Harris was not chosen by vote due to Biden stepping down. And while many expect her to potentially run again, either for President or another office, she is but one of a crowded field who are vying for the nomination in 2028. So, what are Democrats to do?
For the year of 2025, Democrats need to be on a “Listening and Defense” tour. In 2024, the majority of voting Americans rejected the Democratic message – not by a large number, but still not enough to win. It is time to reconnect with the American people and understand where we are.
For the listening part of this tour, Democratic members of Congress and potential candidates should be going around districts not to give stump speeches, but to understand what Americans say they need. Every politician has a canned speech they give at almost every event, it is usually about their history, experience, and their views on policy. It is great for selling a candidate to the public in an election – but 2025 isn’t an election year. Candidates should attend town halls and forums not to deliver speeches, but to engage in dialogue—asking questions, hearing concerns, and truly listening to what people are saying about their challenges, hopes, and frustrations. What keeps people up at night? What are their fears and pain points? What are their dreams, and what is standing in their way from achieving them? For 2025, all Democrats should be doing at these types of events is listening.
For the defense part of this tour, Democrats need to show that their difference from Trump – and actively fight his objectionable policies. Democrats, Moderates, and some Republicans are balking at Trump policies. People have lost their job due to DOGE cuts. Groups of people are being demonized or erased. The courts are pushing back against Trump, but are the Democrats in Congress. Since Democrats are not currently the majority party in either the House or Senate, they are in a unique position to serve as the Loyal Opposition—challenging harmful policies while remaining committed to democratic values and constitutional principles. The loyal opposition is the opposition parties in a legislature. The word loyal indicates that the non-governing parties may oppose the actions of the ruling administration while remaining loyal to the formal source of the government’s power, such as the monarch or constitution. Democrats are there, for now, to oppose the policies of this President. Because, in reality, that is all they can do.
At the start of 2026, when the Midterm Elections get into full swing, candidates should use what is learned in the Listening and Defense tour to craft their messages. If they are in office now, they should show their opposition to the Trump Administration in the key areas where they hurt the voters of that district. As we move toward 2028, we need a Democratic version of Project 2025 – Project 2029. It should show how we are going to reverse the changes of the current administration. Given the constitutional crisis we are currently in with an unchecked executive, we should also have a reform plan – absent of any political leanings – that will reign in the power of the executive branch and ensure that this cannot happen again.
The time to act is now. Democrats must start planning, listening, and defending the values that unite us. Only by doing so will we be able to win back the trust of the American people and chart a path toward a brighter future.
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