The defeat of Kamala Harris in the presidential election has left the Democratic Party without a clear leader to guide it in countering Donald Trump over the next four years.
Republican candidate Donald Trump won the November 5th election against Vice President Kamala Harris, becoming the President-elect who will lead the United States for a four-year term beginning in January 2025.
The congressional landscape also favors the Republicans, who have secured 53 out of 100 Senate seats, taking control from the Democrats. In the House of Representatives, which has 435 seats, Republicans hold a lead of 214-203. They need just four more seats to maintain their House majority.
Democrats are now entering Trump's second term without a clear leader or strategy and have yet to analyze the reasons behind Harris's defeat. “The responsibility for this loss lies primarily with President Joe Biden. If he had stepped aside from the race in January instead of July, we could have been in a very different position,” said Democratic Representative Ro Khanna on November 6th. Following the White House race loss, the Democratic Party risks becoming leaderless. President Joe Biden announced in late July that he would not seek a second term, passing the torch to his vice president.
Harris lost both the electoral college and is on track to lose the popular vote. In her concession speech, she urged supporters to keep fighting for “freedom, justice, and the future.”
However, Vice President Harris is unlikely to become the movement's leader, as American political parties typically do not elevate defeated presidential candidates, with Trump being a notable exception.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jamie Harrison has announced he will not seek reelection, and a new chair may be chosen in early 2025. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will head the minority in the upcoming term.
According to the Washington Post, a new Democratic leader is unlikely to emerge until the party’s primary elections for the 2028 presidential race. This uncertainty adds to the Democratic Party's challenges.
The party needs to regain support from voters who expressed their dissatisfaction at the ballot box. Whoever emerges as the new face of the party must convince Americans that they offer a better path forward.
Potential candidates for the 2028 primary may include various governors, some of whom have already outlined strategies to limit the impact of Trump's second term in their states.
A pressing task for the Democrats is selecting a new DNC chair to oversee fundraising and strategizing for the 2026 midterms. The new chair will also guide the 2028 primary, possibly reshaping the nomination process. Biden previously moved South Carolina’s primary to the forefront, sidelining Iowa and New Hampshire. Many Democrats may seek to reorganize the primary calendar over the next four years.
Some Democrats hope the next DNC chair can unite the party's factions, mobilize fundraising, and lead internal reforms to modernize the organization for a new era.
The Democrats cannot solely focus on opposing the Trump administration, though that is part of the challenge. Lawmakers must also elect leaders in both chambers amid dwindling seats and influence. Internal divisions persist over the reasons for their loss, with some arguing leadership was too cautious in pursuing transformative changes, while others believe the party's progressive stances were too out of touch with an increasingly conservative America.
“We spent billions on flashy events and slogans but failed to address the anger of Americans whose children can't buy cars, homes, or achieve the 'American Dream' slipping away. I doubt a report will change that,” said Representative Khanna.
Democratic Representative Chris Deluzio emphasized learning from voters and successful candidates rather than relying solely on consultants. He recently defeated Republican Rob Mercuri to win a second term in Pennsylvania.
Former DNC Chair Howard Dean suggested that the party analyze its shortcomings. “Voter turnout was lower this year compared to 2020, which hurt Democrats more than Republicans. We need to find out why,” he said, though he added the DNC might not be the best body for such introspection.
“The Democrats must conduct a deep self-assessment and determine how to regain the trust of rural voters, working-class Americans, Latinos, and young men. It’s clear they don’t believe we are addressing their everyday concerns,” said Jef Pollock, a veteran Democratic pollster, in an interview with AP.
(According toWashington Post, AP)
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