Whether Democrats have found their way prior to the midterm elections next year is still a question up in the air. But last week’s elections point in the right direction.
The 2024 presidential election sapped the energy from Democratic donors, volunteers and grassroots activists. The excitement that Vice President Kamala Harris generated in her barnstorming campaign burst when President Donald Trump beat her convincingly last fall.
It seemed incomprehensible that a man who led an insurrection against the U.S. Capitol, had been convicted of 34 felonies and stood accused of many more crimes would be acceptable to so many as president, much less their preferred option. But that is one of the quirks of the American form of government — the electorate tends to make up its own mind.
Trump has since delivered on many of his promises, much to the chagrin of many who voted for him.
His administration detaining migrants for no offense beyond their entry into the country caught many off guard. They expected the focus to be on hardened criminals and dangerous drug runners. Instead, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have terrorized communities with masked agents who seem indiscriminate about whom they arrest. Often, the easiest targets have been pillars of the community who turned toward Trump in 2024.
Similarly, many Americans who thought he would turn around the economy have been struck by rising costs and stubborn inflation. The tariffs imposed by Trump have cost jobs and made prices spike. Tradesmen who had steady jobs in industries that flourished under Biden but hoped for more have found themselves without work once Trump cut funding.
Most recently, people who relied on federal assistance have found that Trump has dealt them a triple-whammy. He championed the bill to cut health care aid, allowed Affordable Care Act marketplace rates to jump and has shut down the government that gave them a hand up.
That has led to a cut in SNAP benefits that fed 42 million people. The cumulative effect leaves a broad swath of America, including many who hoped for more from Trump, desperate and scared.
And many regret their vote.
Democrats in 2025 seemed to have capitalized. Two women won key gubernatorial seats focusing on affordability in their states. Despite the histrionics over his age, race and political affiliation, the incoming mayor of New York delivered a similar message. The world these Democrats promised to voters would be one where people could afford food, transportation, child care, health care and a roof over their head.
They focused on the basic building blocks for all Americans. And it worked.
For too long too many Democrats have been viewed as too influenced by a plethora of small advocacy groups. Whether it took the form of gate-keeping language or policies that seemed too targeted, they made it easy for the GOP to pit them against each other. More importantly, they could pit them against apolitical Americans who pay little attention to politics beyond voting every few years.
Republicans then used their historic advantage in voter perception of who manages the economy best to sweep up votes and win elections. That has been the formula and what fueled Trump’s return to the White House.
Of course, there is little truth in the public perception. In fact, it is plain false.
Since 1980, almost every economic indicator demonstrates Democrats are better for the overall economy. From job growth to unemployment percentages and manufacturing jobs, Americans have done better when someone with a “D” behind their name is in office.
But Democrats have not been able to sell that truth.
Instead they bickered among themselves about esoteric policies and theoretical application of ideologies. They cast aspersions at each other and did the hard work for Republicans. To win their own intra-party quibbles, they have focused on arguments and parsed messaging that do not resonate with the voters they need to win.
That is how Democrats lost critical ground to Trump among young voters, Latino voters and Black voters. Those unexpected gains delivered him his victory. Many were drawn to his simple promise to make their lives better by making the cost of eggs go down.
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This year, many who flirted with MAGA and Trump have found their way home. Governors-elect Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia saw 2-to-1 leads in Latino voters after Trump had garnered almost half the year before. Sherrill and Spanberger each won among young men by double-digits; that voting bloc had been a shocking backbone for Trump’s victory. Both women locked in about 80% of “double-haters” — voters who dislike both parties.
Those results are not just because people have soured on Trump since seeing the circus he returned to the White House. They also follow from Democrats finally figuring out how to convince voters they would make the economy and their lives better.
They used simple terms and specific, targeted examples that applied to everyone. They made it clear that no matter who you are, you deserve a life you can afford to live. And that is what Democrats need to carry forward to win again in 2026.
Mario Nicolais is an attorney and columnist who writes on law enforcement, the legal system, health care and public policy. Follow him on BlueSky: @MarioNicolais.bsky.social.
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