Can Democrats Get It Together Before Democracy Falls Apart?

Jun 19, 2025

The one sure thing that can be said about the Democratic Party is that it doesn’t lack for disparate points of view. Wherever they gather in numbers, it is transformed into a political family reunion where every cousin brings a different recipe and insists theirs is the original. This analogy has never felt more apt than it does in 2025. It’s a party so expansive, so ideologically and culturally diverse, that organizing around one person or one unified platform seems like trying to baptize a cat.

Unlike Republicans—who, for better or worse, and mostly the latter, fall in line behind their leaders with almost martial discipline—Democrats are a chorus of reformers committed to progress—but too often, the need to perfect the harmony overshadows the urgency of the message. And in this political moment, with Trumpism not just resurgent but weaponized and unapologetically authoritarian, that lack of cohesion isn’t just frustrating—it’s dangerous. We are not in normal times. And yet, too often, the Democratic Party behaves as if we are.

The Big Tent Challenge

The Democratic Party’s strength has always been its diversity. It encompasses working-class union members, suburban moderates, progressives pushing for climate justice, civil rights activists, Black churches, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ advocates, and Gen Z digital warriors. It is a patchwork quilt of identities, causes, and histories—united more by what it opposes than what it fully agrees on.

That diversity is morally righteous and reflective of America itself. But it also presents a chronic organizing problem. Messaging gets diluted. Policy priorities compete. Leaders jockey for attention. And just when consensus starts to take shape, another faction pulls in a different direction.

In contrast, today’s Republican Party is ideologically rigid, homogeneous in its power structure, and laser-focused on dominance, not democracy. That clarity of purpose—however ethically bankrupt—makes them a formidable force. Meanwhile, Democrats keep getting caught up in internal debates over nuance while the far right burns down the house.

Trumpism Isn’t a Theory—It’s a Blueprint in Motion

Let’s be clear. The threat posed by Donald Trump’s return to power is not a philosophical one. It's existential. We’re talking about a man who has openly vowed to weaponize the Department of Justice against his enemies, dismantle civil service protections, gut checks and balances, and essentially install himself as an American autocrat. He is a 34-count convicted felon, twice-impeached, who tried to overturn an election—and has only grown more brazen.

Trump isn’t hiding the ball. His allies are frenetically implementing their efforts to seize control of the federal bureaucracy under “Project 2025, which was drafted by The Heritage Foundation. And they’re doing so while Democrats argue over whether a centrist nominee is too bland or whether a progressive one is too radical. There is no time for that kind of indulgence.

So, What Must Be Done?

If Democrats are to stand a chance—not just electorally, but morally—they must prioritize cohesion over purity. That doesn’t mean silencing dissent. It means understanding that internal disagreements must take a back seat to the survival of democracy itself.

Here’s what that could look like:

1. Adopt a “Pro-Democracy First” Agenda

While this didn’t resonate as well as party leadership might have hoped in 2024, now that Americans are seeing authoritarianism in action, that door may once again be open. Every Democratic candidate and surrogate must carry the same core message: This election is about preserving democratic institutions. That includes the right to vote, an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power. Make it plain. Make it urgent. And hammer it relentlessly.

2. Simplify the Message

Too often, Democrats try to explain policy with nuance while exhibiting their vocabulary when what the moment demands is clarity. As my grandfather used to say, “Why use a 5 dollar word when a 50-cent one will do?” Republicans say “crime.” Democrats say “community-centered harm reduction through participatory budgeting.” One wins soundbites; the other loses voters. Talk like real people. Say what you’re for, what you’re against, and how it affects everyday life. This is not the time for think-tank-speak.

3. Reclaim the Working Class Without Alienating the Base

This cannot be overstated: Democrats have lost ground with working-class Americans, particularly white, rural, and blue-collar voters who once made up the bedrock of the party. Many of these voters didn’t leave the party out of hate; they left because they felt unheard, unseen, and increasingly unwelcome.

The party must go back and do the work of reintroducing itself. That starts by speaking plainly about kitchen-table issues—wages, jobs, housing, health care—and defending the dignity of work, whether that work takes place in a factory, a field, or a service line.

The Democratic Party must stop surrendering patriotism and economic populism to the right. These voters want security, fairness, and a government that works—not culture war sermons or abstract debates about terminology. Show up in their towns. Partner with local organizers. Make the case that Democrats are the ones fighting for their futures, not the billionaires bankrolling performative outrage.

4. Honor Policy Differences Without Destroying Unity

Internal policy differences should remain internal. That means no public circular firing squads. Progressives and moderates alike need to recognize the stakes. Save the bickering for the post-election analysis—if we’re lucky enough to have one.

5. Empower Trusted Messengers

Not everyone listens to political figures. But people do listen to pastors, local business owners, entertainers, influencers, and trusted family members. The party must build a decentralized army of messengers across the cultural spectrum. Use Substack, TikTok, barbershops, churches, newsletters—whatever it takes.

6. Create a “Unity Cabinet” Vision

One way to address the intra-party anxiety about who best represents the party is to paint a picture of collective leadership. Candidates should start talking now about the kind of administration they would build: one that includes progressive champions, moderate fixers, and activists alike. Americans need to see that the Democratic Party isn’t just a person—it’s a coalition prepared to govern.

7. Call the Threat What It Is and Repeat It Over and Over

Enough with the euphemisms. Trumpism is not populism—it’s authoritarianism. It's rooted in grievance, white nationalism, and a contempt for institutions. If Democrats don’t say that clearly and repeatedly, the country will forget how high the stakes are. It was the party’s inability to properly frame Trump that led to his resurrection. Truth must be weaponized as deliberately as disinformation has been by the other side.

A Moment That Demands Maturity

It’s fashionable to talk about the Democrats’ disunity and current low polling numbers. But one thing is certain, it’s the only party trying to save the Republic. The time for purity tests, bruised egos, and generational turf wars must give way to a new kind of political maturity. One that understands the assignment.

This isn’t about winning an election. It’s about preventing the normalization of a political movement that doesn’t believe in democracy unless it wins. It’s about ensuring that our children and grandchildren still live in a country where the people, not one man, hold power. The truth is, the Democratic Party is already on the right side of history. Now it just needs to act like it with everyone at the table singing the same hymn.