I thought Kamala Harris would win. I was wrong. I’m sure we as Democrats can argue that this defeat wasn’t a landslide, and take some comfort in our record in the House, but the most important thing for us right now is to protect ourselves. It’s about facing what we’ve done wrong and taking action based on the prevailing “why.” ”
I’ve spent the past two months racking my brain about all the variables, all the assumptions, all the questions about Joe Biden’s re-election decision, and what Democrats and messages worked against Donald Trump. I have been considering it inside. I’ll be back for the same thing. The reason we lost is very simple. It’s about economics, it is, it always will be, it’s stupid. We must start 2025 with this truth as our political north star and not be distracted by anything else.
Although the U.S. economy remained the strongest in the world, GDP was soaring, and inflation was subsiding, the American people were never satisfied with America’s superiority over other countries or thought it was enough. For the first time in his political career, Mr. Trump won decisively, winning over a broad swath of middle-class and low-income voters who care about the economy. Democrats have completely lost the economic narrative. The only path to electoral salvation is to take back elections. Perception is everything in politics, and many Americans realize that we’re talking about the economy for lunch and don’t feel their pain or care about much else.
To reclaim the economic narrative, we must focus on activating a transformed messaging machine that aligns with the new political paradigm in which we now live. It’s about finding a way to talk convincingly to Americans about the economy. Repeat. Memorable. and focused entirely on issues that affect Americans’ daily lives.
This starts with how we form our opposition. First of all, we have to stop making Mr. Trump himself the main focus. He cannot be elected again. Furthermore, it is clear that many Americans do not care about Trump’s anti-democratic impulses or social problems if they cannot support themselves and their families, even if the charges against him are justified. It’s obvious.
Mr. Trump won the popular vote by bringing Americans’ economic anger to the forefront. If you focus on other things, you risk falling further into the abyss. Our message machine must be sharply focused on opposing unpopular Republican economic policies that keep his past alive. vocally oppose the party, not the extremism of individuals or their movements; I don’t always agree with Wall Street, but Jamie Dimon was right when he said that Democrats’ accusations of “ultra MAGA” are insulting and politically tone-deaf. You cannot win elections by denouncing other Americans and their leaders as villains. He will focus on economic pain, as well as challenge Republican economic policies.
There will be many people who will oppose it. Our core message must revolve around opposing Republican tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. I know it was very unpopular and they would love to do it again. and attack the rest. We know Republicans are likely to raise everyday costs with slapstick tariffs. They will almost certainly try to cut the Affordable Care Act and raise premiums for the working class. And it probably won’t do anything to reduce prescription drug costs. In a truly astonishing display of inhumanity, House Speaker Mike Johnson has already cut into medical funding for September 11th emergency workers and survivors. Much worse things are going to happen.
But of course, the opposite is only half the coin.
There is little chance that Democrats will pass any bold, progressive economic policies over the next four years, but what we can do is force Republicans to oppose them. We have to go on the offensive with very popular populist economic policies that they cannot support.
Let’s start by opposing raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Let’s make Roe v. Wade a matter of economic messaging and thwart our attempts to codify it into law. And let’s make immigration an economic issue and force Republicans to deny bipartisan reforms that would bring more talent and business to our country. This year, Democratic Party leaders must convene and unveil creative, populist and bold economic policies and aggressively take back economic turf. Grow big, become populist, fixate on economic development and force them to oppose things they don’t agree with. All at once.
Finally, Democrats must build on this economic policy by stepping headfirst into the new media paradigm in which we now live. I’m an 80-year-old man, and I can clearly see that we’re moving toward a non-traditional, decentralized media environment. Podcasts are the new paper newspapers and magazines. Social platforms are the conscience of society. And influencers are the digital custodians of that conscience. Our economic message must be sharp, crisp and clear. And we have to convey that to people correctly. Democratic presidential candidates, your 2028 auditions should be based on two things. 1) How honest you are about the economy and 2) How well you communicate it on your podcast.
The road ahead will not be easy, but there are no two choices. The path forward could not be more certain. Whether we live or die depends on winning public recognition of our economy.
It was that way in the past, it is now, and it will always be that way.
James Carville is a veteran of Democratic presidential campaigns, including Bill Clinton’s in 1992, and a consultant for American Bridge, a Democratic super PAC.
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