The Democratic Party Needs to Restructure Fast or Risk Losing America for Generations
It has been over a week since #ElectionDay2016, but the nation is still in shock. In the most surprising political upset in recent American history, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton for presidency of the United States, despite numerous polls predicting otherwise.
The defeat was so pronounced that Clinton lost in several key battleground states to the novice politician, even in states where fellow Democrat Barack Obama won by large margins in his previous campaign.
But the question remains: How did Clinton lose a race that was supposed to be in the bag?
She had dozens of endorsements, numerous celebrities in her corner and decades of experience over her opponent but it did her little good, and there’s a strong reason why.
While economic concerns loomed heavy in this campaign season, there was a prevalent anti-establishment sentiment running throughout. In a blindsided move, the Democratic Party pinned their hopes on Clinton, an establishment candidate with heavy baggage and historically low approval-ratings. Even now, those in the DNC refuse to acknowledge that she was the wrong candidate to run in this race.
With the loss of the White House, expected low pickups in Congress, and 33 states across the country with a Republican governor, the Democratic Party is out of power across the political spectrum. Despite their strong takeover of both the White House and Congress in 2008, Democrats are in a state of crisis.
Now the party is cast without a leader and a murky future. As the nation has declared in this election, the politics of the past are no longer in popular demand. In order to rebound from their losses, Democrats need to appeal to the American middle-class and disgruntled Rust Belt voters, two groups who voted overwhelmingly for Trump.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), one of the more prominent voices on the left, led a resounding push against Clinton earlier this year. He is a potential candidate to lead the party into a new era, bolstered by his popularity among young people.
“There needs to be a profound change in the way the Democratic Party does business. It is not good enough to have a liberal elite,” Sanders said in an interview on “CBS This Morning.”
An emphasized effort energizing the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, a focus on disenfranchised white voters and a concerted outreach to Millennials will be a strong first step in the right direction. The restructuring will be a long and arduous task, but it is necessary for a stronger and more supported party.
