The Way Forward
Related: About this forumWe are losing Democratic Registrations
Like probably many of you I used to register voters. It was a byproduct of canvassing. We assumed that if we were canvasing a Democratic household or if the unregistered were a minority or a person less than a million years old, they'd be voting Democratic, not so anymore. More people are registering as Republicans and Independents.
I blame kicking people out of the party. Like this link for instance. I read many disparaging comments about the NYT. Imperfect? Yes. The largest circulation center left news source? Yes also.
Read it here. Free link past the paywall.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/politics/democratic-party-voter-registration-crisis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fk8.gcQJ.UxMXDjm7lbjI&smid=url-share
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JustAnotherGen
(37,215 posts)A broken media ecosystem that gets rewarded for pushing out drivel and nonsense about the 'Dems in Disarray'.
It's tiresome.
Not directed at you - but the very people who SANK the Clinton Campaign and pushed the bullshit about Biden being too old.
Never trust the M$M media. Never. They won't even call out Krasnov's lies. . . why should I believe they would tell us the truth about anything?
Lovie777
(20,675 posts)day in day out it's always same shit, but shithole and GQP usually get a pass.
shithole and GQP are destroying Democracy while bankrupting the USA.
JustAnotherGen
(37,215 posts)About Shelby v Holder or the concerted effort to block Blacks and Latinos from voting. It's about the Registration.
Add in a large group of Black women that are completely disgusted with the behavior of Leftists and the Party Elites in the last months of the Biden Admin and towards VP Harris - and well yeah . . .
Even in NJ we are fighting to keep those voters. But so far I've found 5 Black women in my Borough ALONE who have switched to Indie to thumb their noses at the Leftists and Party Elites.
Someday - maybe in 40 years - we'll read about what happened in the immediate aftermath of the Krasnov Regime taking power.
Gum Logger
(246 posts)
Scrivener7
(57,420 posts)since Cankles took office. The graph shows the trend continuing, but I'd like to see more about that.
This could just be a reflection of the racism and sexism within the Democratic party. But that, too, is something we ignore at our own peril.
JustAnotherGen
(37,215 posts)As well as Shelby v Holder.
It's not too hard to see.
I've lost 5 Black Women in my Borough. I was up at 4 am mapping out a canvass for this weekend. They are now Indies.
I know ONE of them will never believe or trust the far Leftists. She puts 50% of the blame on what she referred to as 'smears as against Harris' from the Leftists. Now she has to worry about her children's safety and security by the other 50% - the inbred magapubs.
We have to discuss the far left - not necessarily Democratic Party members - who although principled, put non-white Americans at risk. They did. It's the truth.
Scrivener7
(57,420 posts)the discussion gets shut down here via a swarm of a handful of posters who insult the person who broached the subject, and insist against all evidence that there is nothing that needs to be addressed.
That's not party loyalty, any more than MAGA worship is loyalty to the other party.
But it's what happens.
JustAnotherGen
(37,215 posts)Kerfuffle told us an awful lot.
" How dare she!" when the Leftists and Party Elites spit on an OVER qualified Black woman.
Knowing what I know NOW about how deep this dislike and disrespect was from Tlaib and Pelosi?
Eh? I'll die a Democratic Party member but something has to change.
Trueblue Texan
(3,863 posts)y'all are going to have to explain what you're talking about regarding the far Leftists. For one thing, can you give me an example of what it means to be a far Leftist? How would you define that and in what way did the far Leftists abandon Harris or smear her? And is this hearsay or is it based on solid data? I'm asking all these questions because I saw no lack of loyalty in our County Dems to Kamala Harris in my deep red Texas district.
somsai
(181 posts)were more fed up with race and sex issues anyway. They were especially not happy with being discriminated against as policy. Much more interested in the economy, immigration, etc. I was also surprised post election how many had voted for Trump. I assume Cankles is Trump?
Anger and hate combined with denial are ways to lose. Winning is new solutions that include everyone. Obama recognised that people vote on positive things. We can win on Trump dislike, but it's not a good thing to depend on.
Trueblue Texan
(3,863 posts)
kacekwl
(8,670 posts)know what people are looking for anymore. I guess everyone is fine being s shithole country.
Keepthesoulalive
(1,880 posts)Is a gnat on a tick when it comes to influencers. The degree of narcissism is frightening and everyone is following someone many times that person is grifting, just like traditional media .why shouldn’t the small fish make some coin? Many like Joe Rogan are apologizing but crocodile tears will only go so far, I’m looking at a certain senator and his followers. People are very confused because they have no core hence the back and forth in presidential elections. When people are willfully stupid and ignorant and don’t learn from recent history , no message will reach them. Example protesting Madam Harris.
NCDem47
(3,131 posts)Dems in red states or districts have changed to Independent, but still vote Democratic.
It's a safety thing and reduce potential harrasment. It's a different world at the moment. Ds are under attack.
JustAnotherGen
(37,215 posts)very on point.
mcar
(45,404 posts)Democrats frequently switch to Republican so they can vote in the primaries - which is often where races are decided here.
Gum Logger
(246 posts)Doubtful Dems can't win anything if they are loosing Appalachia by 90%. The Scotch-Irish are a minority in Appalachia, but they dominate. Then their influence spreads out to the rest of their state. In the words of James Webb, you ignore the Scotch-Irish at your peril
biophile
(932 posts)Or desire for any sense of protection. DOGE has voter rolls, most likely. Don’t think they won’t use that information to single people out for persecution and intimidation.
I also used to be registered as a Republican to vote for moderate Rs in the primary elections. My district is reliably red so it is nice to call my Republican representatives and say “I’m a registered Republican and I want ………(whatever)”.
I always voted Democratic though. The same could be true of people who switch to Independent- they might still vote for progressive candidates.
Cheezoholic
(3,365 posts)I live in a flyover ruby red state and I've never seen nor heard so many people fed up with government as it is working now and they see ALL politicians as Carpet baggers that beg for money every 2 to 4 years and then disappear. Granted, repukes do that 2/1 as much as Dems do. It's also part of the repuke strategy in tearing government down. Whatever the cause one can argue until the sun comes up. But its there and its real. While its fun to mock FatAss we need to get down to offering everyone relief. As it always is, no matter what, the economy. Repukes would fire Jesus if he started hurting them economically. We need to run on the fact that we will stop anymore cuts to the safety net first. As much as we want to, if we win in '26, we can't spend 2 years doing nothing but investigations and impeachments. We need to do real legislation and let the King repuke veto every bill we toss up. We need to repeal the BBB as many times as we can if we have the vote. Focusing on investigations just turns people off and makes it look like 2 parties fighting for their own reasons and not the peoples. There is no economic benefit to trying to impeach this asshole again. We need to seriously continue to move away from the neo-liberal BS that got us sucked into this mess in the first place. We are sitting so pretty right now, they are panicking. The Independent voter out numbers both party voters now. We need to fish on that side of the pond. Most of those people wont vote repuke but they will sit out a cycle if it just looks like status quo BS. We cant blow it over more and more investigations and impeachments. Its the fucking economy, show people we are serious about fixing it.
Scrivener7
(57,420 posts)somsai
(181 posts)but at the same time he reduced their personal taxes much more than they lose in dividends.
Biden's border policies were instrumental in containing and then reducing, inflation due to wage increases. Reducing the number of low income workers will drive up labor costs and cut into profits. Trump's immigration stuff is heresy to people like the Chamber of Commerce and CATO.
Likewise tariffs. Manufacturing for low cost overseas and selling for high cost here is a huge win/win for quarterly profits, and it has been for a hundred quarters.
At the same time that the Republicans have been stealing working class voters they have been losing high income. With citizens united we've outraised with donations. The only good news is that the poor don't vote as regularly, especially in mid terms. It's a sad thing when we have to depend on the wealthy, and ultimately in a democracy the most votes, not the most money, wins.
PBC_Democrat
(442 posts)I live in a retirement community in WPB, Fl where politics is a frequent topic. We have the fringe of each party well represented but people are casual participants and, at least to some degree, swing voters.
A common theme is they were lied to by Biden/Harris about immigration, inflation, and Trans-gender sports issues.
Many people listen to, and agree with people like, Bill Mahr and Steven A Smith.
I fear that the Democratic party is starting into a death spiral. Registration is down, DNC fundraising is down. While these signs aren't fatal, they aren't encouraging.
Our voters are clustered in the major cities and on the coasts ... we need more widespread appeal.
Trueblue Texan
(3,863 posts)People are fed up with the texts and email solicitations--that's a major reason why contributions are down. We're going to have to go back to the old fashion shoe leather contributions and actually talk to people. We can use social media and use it as groups, but there is no substitute for in person contact. We need candidates in all the local races and chairs in every precinct, armed with a plan. People need to realize Dems are not radical, but perfectly sane people who mostly want what they want. If we don't show who we are, people will have no choice but to buy the distorted characterizations the media applies to us.
buzzycrumbhunger
(1,397 posts)I’ve given up on signing petitions because invariably, the DNC sells my contact info and I get emails from EVERY damned state, even down to county elections in Bumfuck, Wherever. They could start by shutting down that particular grift because it’s a HUGE turn-off.
Honestly, I don’t think any of them truly give AF about what we want. They simply want our money and they do what they want once they have it.
Seems ridiculous that the higher-ups think this is a good move for anyone, beyond the fact that they’re making money off us by selling our info down the line. Money is clearly the thing they’re most concerned about, IMHO. Once they’ve alienated the voters this way, how do they figure they’ll lure us in to believe their campaign promises?
There really, seriously needs to be a bigger difference between the two parties, and eliminating this crap would be a huge step forward. How about you lure us in with IDEAS—and then follow through by actually working for what we voted for? *sigh*
LeftInTX
(34,006 posts)How do Dems counter this? We could end up with 20,000 Turning Points chapters in our high schools and colleges. I think this should be a big concern. Hopefully, without Kirk, the kids will lose interest, The majority of young Republican kids are now polling as anti-genocide so I don’t think they will take to Zionist Ben Shapiro who wants to replace Kirk.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20647716
somsai
(181 posts)and I didn't know about Turning Points. Kirk's name was familiar, but if someone had asked I wouldn't have been able to say what exactly he did. Shapiro I now know of because he was on Ezra Klein's podcast and I've heard the name a million times. I guess I'm not very online. I do like that he went to colleges and sought to convince people of his ideas even if I don't agree with all of his ideas. Persuading people is a good way to go.
LeftInTX
(34,006 posts)Yes, we have a few Democratic groups on campus, but they aren't as engaged. And to expect AOC or Bernie to engage in voter registration when they are visiting a campus out of state is not realistic because they are not voter registrars in the states they are visiting and neither are their crews. You need a crew dedicated to voter registration to make it happen.
Beto O'Rourke has a motivational PAC called "Powered by People". He's sorta doing what Kirk does. He's not running for office ATM. he focuses on values, engagement and voter registration on campuses. His "Powered by People" PAC does similar work that Kirk does. It's just not as robust.
usonian
(21,357 posts)The old party disappears between elections, and then raises money and spends it on ads that don't work.
RIGHT FUCKING NOW is when people are persuaded with new ideas, or even old GREAT ones that got lost in the shit-flinging.
Here's my take:
A grassroots revolution is needed for the party to win.
And I am proposing some of others' ideas and mine today (stay tuned)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/13244015
Some really are revolutionary (but eminently doable)
Others are quite simple: Attack the root cause of our problems, the insane concentration of wealth and power by a few, for a few, and of a few.
The rest flow down, even social issues, because the wealthy CREATE social issues to divide, while they conquer.
The old party will not attack this problem.
The new one will.
Glen Livid
(14 posts)the wealthy are not the problem, just a problem.
To simplify problems by pointing to one group of people as the reason for someone's problems gives those feeling marginalized an anger vent, but realistically doesn't solve anything. People want tangible solutions that they can participate in themselves at the local level. The apparition of a 'scary billionaire' is at best saved for campfire stories hosted by Bernie.
We're hemmoraging voters precisely because we're looking at problems from what is too simplistic of a view ('the wealthy CREATE social issues to divide'). Pretty sure they're too busy making a buck to really focus on (or care) whether the government is funding school lunch programs.
progree
(12,423 posts)Shown are % party identifiers + leaners
From 2020 to 2024 Republican/Republican leaner increased from 43% to 46%,
while Democrat/Democrat leaner decreased from 48% to 45%.
The 2025 numbers will be very interesting when they come out.
Orrex
(66,174 posts)They’ve been working hard for the GOP since before Gore ran.
Tetrachloride
(9,147 posts)sprinkleeninow
(21,720 posts)Doodley
(11,444 posts)Trueblue Texan
(3,863 posts)Doodley
(11,444 posts)immigrants have treated America unfairly and caused a lot of violent crime. They think itariffs are fair beacuse they think other nations have treated us unfairly and tariffed us too much. On every area, with the BS they believe and want to believe, they think they're are being fair and Democrats are being unfair.
Keepthesoulalive
(1,880 posts)I vote for everyone. I don’t vote for my pet issue and sit at home and sulk because my issue wasn’t front and center. I don’t vote for the candidate that will do the opposite or will not win. America is suffering from a self centered me addiction and after Trump and his destruction if that isn’t enough to make you get out and vote to help the world. Well I’m not going to fret or try to make you see how your blindness is causing so much pain. You will get what you vote for.