Striking Out: Why Democrats Keep Losing the Political Game

Photo via Fox Sports

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Amid a firestorm of budget cuts, executive orders, and tweets, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries likened the House Democrats to Aaron Judge—a New York Yankee who, in 2024, statistically had one of the worst postseasons for a superstar in recent memory. Jeffries suggested to nervous citizens to be patient and let Democrats choose which pitches to swing at, but trust in the current Democratic Party is dwindling. Likening yourself to a player who literally dropped the ball on the biggest stage in baseball is the perfect description of the current state of the Democratic Party. 

Swings and misses are all too common for Judge and Democrat leaders. Following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on January 20, $40 billion intended for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was gone practically overnight, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives were banned in all U.S. universities, and transgender people were banned from women’s school sports in a matter of days. All of this happened without a clear, opposing message from Democrats. 

Stephen K. Bannon, former Trump White House Chief Strategist, predicted this back in 2018; he believed the Democrats and the media would be overwhelmed if Trump “flooded the zone” with initiatives. This analysis has largely proven true, especially during Trump’s first month in office. The sheer number of executive orders has proven too much for Democrats, who simply cannot multitask and provide a comprehensive response. Democrats’ only relief has come through the court system, with federal judges blocking some of Trump’s more extreme executive orders. As the courts delay the damaging effects of said orders, Democrats have been given the opportunity to create a substantial plan to combat the adverse effects of Trump’s 73 executive orders and various budget cuts. 

But despite this opportunity, the Democratic Party, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Jeffries, has been twiddling its thumbs and making poor analogies since Trump took office over a month ago. Part of the problem is that the Democratic Party does not have a clear leader, with 49% of registered voters in a Suffolk University poll uncertain about who the leader of the Democratic Party is. The larger issue, however, is that current leaders of the Democratic Party are unable to respond to the speed and decisiveness the Trump administration has acted with.

Schumer has repeatedly said that he will not fall for Bannon’s ‘flood the zone’ tactic, allowing for the confirmation of Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees. As Schumer and fellow Democrats wait for a juicy fastball right down the middle to swing at, Trump’s most consequential decisions, including the confirmation of an anti-vaccination Department of Health Secretary, have already happened. The inaction of the minorities in Congress is frankly astounding; with the “fate of our democracy” in the balance, a furious string of skeets—the Bluesky version of a tweet—does little to assuage the fears of the American public. Choosing which pitches to swing at not only leads to a reactive approach rather than a proactive one, but it also is a disservice to minorities and vulnerable groups. AIDS clinics in Africa closed overnight and thousands of federal workers were fired in a matter of days while the Democrats stood frozen in the batter’s box as a 98-MPH fastball found the strike zone.

Just recently, Trump posted a 30-second AI-generated video about “Trump Gaza”  to Truth Social, filled with golden statues of Trump and belly dancers with beards and scarves. As the media and the left expressed outrage at such a distasteful video, the Trump administration cut nearly 10,000 foreign aid programs. Without a clear leadership structure, Democrats are left to scramble due to their lack of a clear plan of action. Institutions that have been built over decades are being undone in the blink of an eye, with little resistance. As the leftist political elite bemoans the norm-breaking actions of Trump and Senior Advisor Elon Musk, Democrat voters are left confused and unclear on the direction of this country.

Trumpian Republicans, on the other hand, are willing to break the rules and long-standing traditions of our American democracy, while the leaders of the Democratic party have simply pointed fingers in response. This trend was present in his first term, with Trump nominating and confirming Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court just 38 days before election day. Former U.S. President Barack Obama was not given the same luxury, and yet the Democrats still chose to place themselves in a morally superior position, highlighting the Republicans’ hypocrisy instead of offering the same response. The damage was swift: Barrett, a now 53-year-old conservative, will influence the Supreme Court for decades to come, all while the left will be searching up the law in the rulebook. 

The self-righteous attitude of the Democrats has doomed them in elections since Trump came into political power. As they preach inclusivity and expect moral purity, Democrats have pushed out and alienated those who may disagree with Democrats on one or two major issues. As Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy pointed out in an interview with Hasan Minhaj, the Democratic party has abandoned the basic economic principles, which has led to Democrats’ grasp on the working class loosening in recent elections. Murphy calls for the party to “broaden the tent,” allowing for more flexibility for positions on issues like reproductive rights and universal background checks. The result: more Democrats win more elections. Once in power, Democrats would then be able to institute their more liberal ideas, while retaining the support of a larger base centered around economic equality. 

Notably, the economy has consistently ranked at the top of voters’ most critical issues lists in recent elections. Current Democratic leadership seems to have forgotten that fact, as they ran their campaigns on reproductive rights, equality, and anti-Trump rhetoric. These are undeniably important issues, but they are not at the top of voters’ minds. 

A shift in Democratic leadership is needed quickly. The old guard has proven ineffective in winning elections and addressing the massive political shift in America today, but all hope is not lost. Several young, invigorated Democrats are beginning to emerge from the chaos that is unfolding in Washington and across the country. Senator Murphy’s call for broadening the Democratic coalition is a compelling case and solution to the recent floundering by Democrats in the polls. Policy adjustment is undoubtedly needed as well for upcoming midterm elections in which the left aims to reclaim control of Congress. Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg echoes a similar sentiment, rebuking the party’s obsession with diversity and arguing that it cost the party the presidential election. Buttigieg has critiqued the changes made by the Department of Transportation, offering opposing solutions while still highlighting the errors of the Trump administration. As he considers a 2026 Michigan Senate bid, Buttigieg will remain a voice of reason against the current administration while garnering support to keep him at the top of the Democratic Party for years to come. United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also been one of the most aggressive anti-Trump members in Congress, utilizing her youth and vigor to steal media attention away from the president.

Democrats have a multitude of up-and-coming leaders who have an ideal balance of passion, reason, and energy that can capture the attention and votes of the demographics the party has lost. The Democrats evidently have a bright future for party leadership, but—just like for Judge and the Yankees—the clock is ticking, and the future needs to come sooner rather than later.