In the recent 2024 presidential election, President Trump claimed victories in all seven key swing states, secured the popular vote, and stunned Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party with his win. Following this, I received messages from various high-ranking Democratic operatives who noted a desire to refocus on the needs of the working class, the poor, and the marginalized.
Yet, that intention fell flat. That’s just not how things seem to be shaping up.
Seven months after Trump reshaped his campaign strategy, Democrats appear to be mired in concerns about distant activists, whom they still seem to regard with trepidation.
In 2024, a significant number of voters rejected core tenets that had previously defined Democratic support. This included black and Hispanic men, non-white voters, disenfranchised young people, and independents. Those who were observant understood the sentiment: Trump’s focus on perceived grievances, his portrayal of perpetual victimhood, and identity politics aren’t real policy; they come off as tirades that many find exhausting. Bill Maher, the HBO host known for his left-leaning views, has emphasized this point repeatedly.
The people who shifted their allegiance to Trump in 2024 did so primarily because he addressed fundamental issues that directly impacted their lives and futures.
There’s a growing perception among voters that the Democrats are not only lacking leadership but also missing genuine solutions for the challenges they face. Whether the Democrats or mainstream media choose to acknowledge it or not, many people listened to Trump in 2024 and are increasingly convinced his policies resonate with their needs.
The pressing question for Democrats as they approach the midterms and look toward 2028 is whether individuals from communities once firmly aligned with them will rethink their loyalty to a party that has held power for generations. Current trends and Trump’s emphasis on basic issues indicate that this could indeed happen.
What do these voters see when they look toward the current Democratic leadership, especially those who feel disenchanted? Unfortunately, they see the same reliance on “Trump of Hate,” identity politics, and narratives of “Eternal Victims.”
Two figures in particular stand out: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). Both appear to be positioning themselves for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
But there’s a straightforward way potential voters can evaluate them as they push their versions of Democratic ideals. It’s not about having a strategy to merely oppose Trump or generate self-serving messaging. Instead, their actions sometimes verge on narcissism.
Stephen A. Smith, a prominent sportscaster and unlikely 2028 Democratic candidate, recently discussed this on his podcast, critiquing both Ocasio-Cortez and Crockett.
“If you’re a Democrat or leftist against the system… and you believe higher taxes are key, then if AOC is your choice, honestly, you should reconsider,” he stated. “Most Americans are centrists or moderates—whether they’re moderate Republicans, Democrats, or independents—and that’s a large demographic… she gives off a certain vibe.”
Smith also highlighted Crockett, pointing out that her primary stance seems to be purely opposition to Trump.
Regardless of personal views on him, Smith seems to tap into the sentiments of millions of disillusioned voters—those who are working class, struggling, marginalized, and increasingly scrutinizing current Democratic leadership in light of their self-serving rhetoric about Trump instead of addressing real issues.
Democrats do so at their peril if they continue to overlook these millions of voices who can distinguish between empty slogans and substantive policies.
