Warning signs for Democrats

[everyonematters]

This is from yesterday's Atlas intel poll. It is the same poll that had the Democrats ahead in the vote for Congress by 15%

The Democratic Party is facing a crisis of leadership:
agree 79%
don't know 5%
disagree 16%

Democrats have systematically betrayed some of their longstanding constituents:
agree 68%
don't know 9%
disagree 19%

Democrats don't know how to affectively oppose Trump's agenda
agree 66%
don't know 9%
disagree 19%

Democratic party is out of touch with the real issues facing Americans:
agree 60%
don't know 5%
disagree 35%

Democrats' woke discourse has gone to far:
agree 52%
don't know 4%
disagree 45%

Opinions on Trump:
Trump serves the interest of big business lobbies:
agree 63%
don't know 4%
disagree 33%

Trump's policies will hurt the US economy:
agree 61%
don't know 2%
disagree 37%

Trump's foreign policy leaves the US more vulnerable and isolated:
agree 61%
don't know 2%
disagree 37%

Trump acts like a dictator:
agree 59%
disagree 41%

Trump is too close to Russia:
agree 54%
don't know 5%
disagree 41%
https://cdn.atlasintel.org/faa7f7df-daae-44ca-801b-f25a339d99dc.pdf?_gl=1*5fe733*_ga*ODgwMDMwNTA0LjE3Nzg1ODYzNzE.*_ga_W78QD5CNP1*czE3Nzg1ODYzNzEkbzEkZzAkdDE3Nzg1ODYzNzMkajU4JGwwJGgw


In yesterday's CNN poll, on the important issues of health care costs, helping the middle class, income inequality, cost of living, the economy and taxes, a substantial number of voters trust neither party to make a difference.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/12/politics/cnn-poll-midterms-affordability-politics-impact

All of this points to the prospect that the Democrats will do well in the midterm election because voters are voting for them as a check on Trump, not because of a strong confidence in them to make a positive difference in their wellbeing. Democrats need to earn the trust of voters that they really are going to make a difference in their lives by putting forward economic policies that go beyond just reversing Trump's policies, policies that strengthen and grow the middle class through higher wages.

Democrats will no doubt spend a lot of time after the midterms holding the Trump administration accountable for all of their abuses. What is going to win them the election in 28, is economic issues.

[Blue Full Moon]

1. The DNC is out of touch. Republican lite is not working.

[Grim Chieftain]

24. The words "Stand Up - Fight Back!" keep running through my mind.

We need to fight like our lives depend on it - because they do.

[leftstreet]

2. DURec

[Lovie777]

3. I'm still voting across board Dems...

[EarlG]

4. IMO these are warning signs for after the upcoming mid-terms

I think at this point it's already baked in that Democrats are going to do well in November. I don't think anyone will be surprised if we retake the House, and even the Senate looks within reach right now. Republicans should be prepared for a wipeout.

These poll results are a warning sign for what happens if/when Democrats regain some measure of power in Washington. Voters are going to expect to see results, and quickly, in a way that meaningfully impacts their lives. If the Democratic Party cannot manage this, they are at risk of what is happening right now to Kier Starmer in the UK -- elected in a landslide, and on the brink of being rejected less than two years later.

The interesting dynamic here in the US, however, is that if Democrats retake the House (and Senate) then they will still have Trump in office as a foil. It doesn't matter what gets through Congress as long as he is there to veto it. So it's not necessarily a matter of getting actual results, but it will be a matter of perception and a question of how hard Democrats are fighting.

I think this poll guarantees that if Democrats do well in November, voters will be in no mood for "lets all come together across the aisle and work with President Trump in a bipartisan way." I believe that Democratic leaders know this, and will avoid falling into the trap. Otherwise, we could be in trouble again in 2028.

[Joinfortmill]

23. Agree.

[NoSheep]

25. Do you think all the gerrymandering and however else they cheat will keep us from winning in the mids?

Every day there's more news making me think there is no way we can have a fair election in Nov 2026. If you know something I don't know, please tell me!

[EarlG]

28. I don't know anything you don't know

But if the 12+ point swing that we’ve seen in many, many special elections in the past 12 months is replicated, it doesn’t matter how many new seats they try to grab. In fact, by diluting their own voter base, it could even backfire.

Things were already looking bad for Republicans *before* Trump decided to invade Iran and blow up the cost of living for everyone, despite promising to do the opposite. People are definitely blaming him for it. He won’t be on the ballot this fall, which means the diehard MAGA vote will likely be down, and all the energy is on the other side. Midterms are always tough for the party in power anyway, let alone this year when there are a lot of pissed off anti-Trump voters out there.

Also note that Senate seats cannot be gerrymandered because they are statewide elections — no lines to redraw. If the Republicans lose the Senate this year, especially given that 3-6 months ago they were touted to comfortably hold on to it— you’re going to see a lot of House seats flip as well, IMO.

At the end of the day, we can’t predict what will happen. But all the indicators have me feeling pretty optimistic.

(Unfortunately, the pessimistic part is what other BS shenanigans they will pull to nullify or screw up the elections, either before or after they happen.)

[Jedi Guy]

32. Trump will be a foil for our legislative agenda if we win both houses, yeah.

But we'll be an equal if not greater foil since his agenda will be dead in the water with the GOP in the minority.

I think what we need to do, and the best we can hope for, is abolish the filibuster in the Senate so we can effectively pass legislation that'll help people and then let Trump kill it with the veto. Let him be the buzzkill and then go on a media blitz to call it out. Bring out the soundbite of him saying he doesn't even think of Americans' economic pain over and over again and hammer him with it every chance we get.

We may not make progress in the last two years of his term but we can hopefully slow the bleeding and then make a strong case for the presidency in 2028.

And hopefully put up a tremendously strong candidate for the White House, but that's another discussion altogether...

[SamuelAdams]

5. Democrats need an agenda that focuses on kitchen table issues.

The affordability agenda some are starting to push needs to be publicized more. It feels like Republicans have become more anti big corporations rhetorically than many Dems have. Attacking health insurance companies, data centers, AI, big tech is a good way to discuss how our agenda protects ordinary Americans against those things.

[Cheezoholic]

6. 100%. We are in "it's the economy stupid" territory. Everything else with come on our trailer. But we must win first

Winning IS THE most important thing and we must do WHATEVER the people want to win. And once we win we get our social agenda through while at the same time doing everything to improve the economy. We are always SEEN as the party of 100 different opinions and causes. WE ARE and obviously everyone knows it so there's no reason on running on those. They come with our territory. We must run on a simple message that we can win with and in IMO it is "it's the economy stupid" time!!!

[betsuni]

7. Republican corruption, intentional dysfunction blamed on Democrats: more distrust in government, give up.

Fewer the voters, closer the elections.

Thinking the problem is Democrats is trusting and believing Republicans. They don't even have to pretend anymore. Authentic. It's all about the power.

[gab13by13]

8. The DNC needs to nominate fighters.

We are our own worst enemy when we say that only a certain kind of Democrat can win in a certain district. Nominate fighters.

Want to know what would inject enthusiasm in our party? Nominate a non-partisan for president in 2028, someone who fights like hell.

Miles Taylor

Malcolm Nance

Sally Yates

Have the guts to do this.

I am still waiting for Merrick Garland and Lisa Monaco to speak out against what has happened to our justice department.

[LeftInTX]

9. The questions are on the vague side

Maybe they should list specific issues that they think Democrats should address?

"Out of touch" is very subject to interpretation. What issues are they "out of touch" on. What are the specifics?

What are voters priorities. It doesn't say

Economy?
Inflation?
Civil Rights?
Immigration?
Gaza?
Israel?
Police?
Voting Rights?
LGBT rights?
Taxes?
Wages?
Public safety?
National Security?
Unemployment?
Health care?
Environment?

etc
etc

The list goes on.....

[Raven123]

27. Thank you. I think pollsters are out of touch with how to conduct a useful poll

[Jilly_in_VA]

30. Why don't we do a poll right here on DU?

Ask people what are their top 5 priorities out of the list you just posted. If you won't, I will.

[Keepthesoulalive]

10. Democrats did

Healthcare, education, children being fed, infrastructure, making sure tthere was a cushion for families in need you know food stamps and assistance with heating in the winter. The repubs ran on social issues and folks blame democrats. The cuts to all of our programs to give billionaires tax breaks is so republican. It has always been democrats who help the American people but then when republicans get in office and gut everything blame the democrats. There is no hope for our country as long as the populace is misinformed and gullible.

[Jilly_in_VA]

15. Correction

Repugs ran on CULTURE WAR issues, and they will again. Just see if they don't.

[Keepthesoulalive]

18. Republicans always run on hating someone or something

The orange flatulent one just said it without filters. The only positive is they are being laughed at because they have been such marks for a known con man.

[ananda]

11. This has been the case since Florida 2000.

What else is new?

[FreeForm73]

12. There is a documentary out

called Hillbilly, on Amazon, Tubi, Roku etc from 2018

It is an eye opener as to our major issues

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8218940/

[biocube]

13. The only path forward is class-first populism...

It's a complete myth the political center is economically center right and socially center left. It's the exact opposite of that. That doesn't mean Democrats need to throw LGBT people under the bus, it does mean Dems need to move left on economics.

Refrendums to raise the minimum wage and paid sick leave are winning in deep-red states. Meanwhile Democrats have lost the share of minority votes several presidential elections in a row and the army of angry women didn't show up to put Kamala. Nationally we need to have candidates whose brand is class politics (like Bermie Sanders).

All we have to do is take a small percentage of white working class vote and Republicans are done. We can do that if we have a candidate that people know will put affordable health care as a priority over the number of female Fortune 500 CEOs.

[Takket]

14. Well the lesson here is that people hating drumpf doesn't automatically mean they like Democrats

And I think the Democratic Party understands that. The problem we constantly have is when we do get power, we have to spend our time cleaning up rethugs messes. Biden spent four years on that and at the end of the four years all people remembered is Biden was president when the covid-inflation (mostly trumps fault but also just an “act of god”) happened, and they took that out on democrats in 2024.

So Biden and the Democrats got the inflation under control, restored the economy, and the fickle public never really got the message from the media or frankly Biden either who didn’t tout his achievements much.

What we have to do when and if we ever get power back is lay out our goals but RELENTLESSLY communicate with the public on it.

[Jilly_in_VA]

16. One thing to watch here

is that they didn't ask Democrats, they asked the general population, apparently.That includes Repugs, which will automatically skew the poll rightward. So don't take it as Gospel.

However, I do think that both Schumer and Ken Martin need to go in favor of some more forward-looking folks. I don't care who they are, just some folks with a more forward vision and not these two old fuddy-duddies. (Need I remind you that I am pushing 83 and I still think of those two guys that way?)

[Torchlight]

17. Warning signs are good assists on the highway

giving us plenty of time to make adjustments.

[FascismIsDeath]

19. Why didn't they ask the same questions about GOP leadership? Also Dems are running the tables on "who you'd vote for"...

[Frasier Balzov]

20. President Generic Democrat.

When I asked DU for names of potential Democratic presidential candidates, you know what the response was?

An outright refusal to name ANYONE!

Reason given? Promotes division based on past experiences believed to have weakened the party.

This attitude ignores the value of early encouragement. What's the rationale of a group like Emily's List anyway?

The consensus among respondents was "Just show me the Democrat and I'll vote for them." Well duh!

The flaw in this approach is that potential candidates must decide to run based on their own ego and some consultant whispering in their ear.

They could even have a sincere desire to lead and address national and global issues on an executive level scale.

But to even have a hunch about their viability to be nominated (and ultimately elected) don't they need as many Democrats as possible saying their name?

[Jilly_in_VA]

29. Did you ask DU Or AI?

It sounds like an AI response.

[Nanjeanne]

21. I think it's important for Democrats in power to recognize that doing well in the midterms is great but

a big reason why they will do well is how badly the country is being run by Trump and his incompetent grifting administration. That will not be enough to win future elections and ONLY a comprehensive policy platform that is bold and visionary and speaks to the many things Americans want and deserve (without using labels like progressive or center etc.) will continue a winning streak.

[Joinfortmill]

22. If we rid ourselves of Donald, I think the country will move decidedly left.

The poll seems fairly accurate As for, 'woke', I don't know that people even have a clear idea of what the hell that really is.

[BillJoeBobBeauregard]

26. Yes I agree

A lot of democrats (me also) are disgusted with our party's leadership.
An example would be when we had the House, The Senate and the Pesidency, we could not even increase the federal minimum wage thanks to Manchin and Sinema.
Of course, to stay home or 3rd party is insane.
It seems we have an extreme right wing in this country that does not believe in democracy and we have a center to right party as the alternative.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

31. "Democrats need to earn the trust of voters that they really are going to make a difference in their lives..."

Americans who can't tell the difference between Democrats and MAGAt Republicans by now NEVER WILL.

SO OVER the never ending demands of Democrats made by people or podcasters or other big mouths who never seem to demand anything of MAGAts.

Where are the Gaza protesters? The South American/Mexican caravans? They should be arriving right on time for midterms!

Where did supposed Iranians celebrating in California get those Make Iran Great Again posters two seconds after Piggy started his illegal war? Where are they now?

Just really fucking over all of it.

[Keepthesoulalive]

33. I get the feeling everyone has this narrow vision of what the party should be

I don’t sense change only do what I want and what I want is the only thing that is important. There are people still hounding Kamala over Gaza as if that is the only thing on their simple minded agenda. They also want to attract white republican males by championing economics. I got news for them, hate is part of their 🧬. I am tired with you but I have other avenues to engage in thoughtful discussion.