A former Democratic congressional candidate and top party insider dropped a major bombshell on liberal lawmakers Monday: Democrats are losing.
“Twenty big cities, Aspen and Martha’s Vineyard — that’s what’s left of the Democratic Party. And I’m not exactly sure those 20 big cities are getting the best version of the Democratic Party,” former Colorado candidate Adam Frisch told The Wall Street Journal.
According to recent polls, Frisch seems correct. The Wall Street Journal reports 60% of Americans now view the Democratic Party unfavorably, while only 36% see it favorably.
“Democrats lost ground with nearly every demographic group last November, including minorities, women, low-income voters and those without college degrees,” wrote the Journal’s Molly Ball from Maryland, where Democrats gathered over the weekend to select new leadership.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett ,D-T.X., echoed these concerns in The New York Times. “We have no coherent message,” she said as the party elected Ken Martin as chair and David Hogg as vice chair this weekend.
“The tepid race for D.N.C. chair illustrated the lack of a broad party message that goes beyond attacking Mr. Trump to offer a new vision,” The New York Times reported. “As party members gathered in Washington this weekend, they heard from candidates for chair who offered largely tactical solutions and fiery attacks on Mr. Trump that echoed the party’s message eight years ago.”
Frisch, who lost his November House bid in a narrow election to Republican Jeff Hurd in Colorado’s mountain district, represents growing internal criticism of the party’s diminishing appeal beyond coastal urban centers.
The Democratic National Committee announced emergency strategy sessions for next week as more elected officials speak out about the party’s messaging failures. Several state party chairs have called for completely new approaches to reaching working-class and minority voters.
Progressive caucus members will meet Thursday to develop alternative messaging strategies, while moderate Democrats plan their own gathering Friday to chart a centrist path forward. The competing meetings highlight deepening divisions as the party grapples with its most significant losses in a generation.