Republicans are paying attention to the concerns of the people, while Democrats seem to be missing the mark. If we truly listened, we wouldn’t rely on outside figures to rally support, nor would we attempt to buy influence through paid promotions involving musicians and creators.
Celebrity involvement does have a place in politics, particularly when it inspires people to volunteer or donate. Yet, despite prominent supporters like LeBron James and Beyoncé, we still lost.
Despite the star power of figures like LeBron James and Beyoncé, Democrats still lost, indicating a disconnect between celebrity endorsements and voter support
Before Tuesday’s election, I visited Michigan, and for the first time, sensed that Democrats might fall short in the presidential race. At the first event, a local crowd gathered, largely thanks to a campaign organizer for Vice President Kamala Harris.
But they didn’t come to hear speeches from national figures like Maya Harris or Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore. Instead, they were there for the local organizer. She didn’t need big names to make her case — just chili, a close-knit community, and a DJ spinning tunes from the 2010s.
Later in Flint, I watched as another colleague teamed up with local organizers to hold a get-out-the-vote concert. She handled performance negotiations and drew in a crowd of about 100, all while passing the cultural nuances. When the emcee took the stage, he called out, “I’m here for the coin, but you need to vote!”
Right then, I realized we were going to lose.
Trump wins because he embodies a certain personality — one that resonates with voters who feel a strong link between self-preservation and their community or country. While government’s role is to provide services, nearly 70 million people now feel that American institutions aren’t doing their part.
Trump has reshaped American expectations, showing that if you want prosperity, you may need to upend reality to achieve it. He has shifted the mindset from “The government will support you” to “Look out for yourself.”
Analysts will soon point out the 15 million who didn’t show up for Harris, as well as those who stayed loyal to President Joe Biden and the growing numbers of Latino and Black voters leaving the Democratic Party. Democrats might say Harris didn’t have enough time between the convention and Election Day.
Republicans, however, will argue that Democrats have lost touch with voters and have failed to address the nation’s problems. But that’s not the core issue. Harris lost votes because one party is genuinely tuned into the electorate, while the other is attempting to steer them.
It’s a hard truth, yet no amount of phone banking, canvassing, or rallies will convince those who feel abandoned by the system to believe otherwise. People whose economic prospects are consistently bleak don’t view their connection with the country as a fair exchange of support and services.
Harris is genuine, smart, and compassionate, and her campaign’s policy proposals — from affordable housing to tax cuts for Black businesses — were well-packaged in media snippets. However, the campaign failed to link these ideas to voters who prioritize taking control of their survival, rather than passively hoping for it.
Ironically, by sidelining Biden, the Democratic Party’s elites removed voters’ chance to decide whether to reelect an incumbent. This approach backfired, as self-preservation is about making choices for oneself, not having them dictated. Many felt that they were denied their right to select their candidate.
Though Trump may have authoritarian tendencies, he was elected as a Republican nominee and now, apparently, as our 47th president. Like it or not, many believe Democrats are responsible for job losses, inflation, and economic issues. In the days to come, the Democratic Party will likely reassess its messaging and devise strategies to support candidates in 2025 and beyond.
We could start by examining the vice president. In her concession speech, Harris emphasized that Americans’ loyalty should lie with the Constitution, not a party or person, but this message missed the mark. In places like Flint and Pontiac, people are focused on survival and can’t relate to idealistic references to founding principles.
We must also examine President-elect Trump closely, with the aim of understanding how he connects with voters who drifted away from us. It’s essential to drop abstract language and address voters directly.
While Trump appeals to those who see their personal survival as intertwined with the country’s, Democrats’ broad policies and candidates fall short. Our national strategies don’t resonate in the same way.
It’s easy to stereotype Trump supporters as being biased or misinformed because their views oppose Democratic values. Moving forward, we must regard them as fellow Americans, neighbors, and friends, and develop a genuine message and strategy that bridges divides.
