On Sunday, Donna Brazile, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, called for deep reflection following President-elect Trump’s surprising performance in Democratic strongholds during the 2024 election cycle.
In a panel discussion on ABC News’s This Week, Brazile urged her party to examine the results closely. “We need to analyze what happened in New Jersey, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. What went wrong there?” she asked.
Brazile pointed out that Trump’s gains weren’t limited to battleground states, where he saw a 3 to 4-point improvement. “Trump made gains in inner cities and outer suburbs as well. It seems like he ran the 50-state strategy the Democrats used to talk about,” she said.
Brazile stresses need for broader discussion on Democratic messaging and strategy after 2024 results
Despite a tight race between Trump and Vice President Harris, Trump exceeded expectations for the third consecutive presidential election. He secured victories in key battleground states and is poised to win the popular vote. However, he made strides in traditionally blue states, narrowing the margins in several of them.
Reflecting on the party’s shortcomings, Brazile, a veteran Democratic strategist, emphasized the need for a broader discussion. “We need to talk about messaging, the map, and whether 107 days was enough. All of it needs to be part of the conversation,” she said.
She further acknowledged the party’s previous failure in 2016, recalling how the Democrats tried to hold the “blue wall” together but lacked the necessary strategy. “We needed more than just Elmer’s glue,” she remarked.
To make a real change, Brazile stressed the importance of reaching voters where they are, rather than simplifying the result by claiming that Trump’s victory was merely due to his ability to lie better.
