The Democratic Party is facing significant challenges that have led commentators like Rob Finnerty to declare it a “dying” political force. Recent election results, shifting voter loyalties, and internal ideological conflicts paint a grim picture for the party’s future.
Finnerty argues Democrats “start wars but don’t end them,” pointing to Ukraine as the latest example. He notes 72% of Americans want the Russia-Ukraine conflict resolved, yet Democratic leadership under Biden allegedly sent $200 billion without an exit strategy. The chaotic Oval Office clash between President Trump and Zelenskyy revealed Democratic lawmakers prioritizing Ukraine’s interests over American concerns, with Finnerty observing Zelenskyy’s defeated demeanor signaling the failure of Democratic foreign policy.
The party has hemorrhaged support among key groups:
– Hispanic voters shifted rightward by 12 points since 2020
– Working-class voters abandoned Democrats in swing states
– Men now disapprove of Democrats 67%-22%
Even women only approve of Democrats 39%-37% – a statistical tie. This erosion mirrors the party’s 1988 collapse under Dukakis, requiring what analysts call a “political revolution” to reverse.
Gallup polling shows 45% of Democrats now want more moderation – an 11-point surge since 2021. Only 29% still push progressive policies, creating internal tension between:
– Liberal Democrats (49% of party) wanting bold leftward moves
– Moderate Democrats (43% of party) demanding centrist reforms
This divide paralyzes decision-making while Republicans unite behind Trump’s agenda.
Democrats have lost 44 electoral votes since 2000 as states like Florida and Ohio turned solid red. Current projections show blue states losing 11 more votes by 2030 while red states gain 10. The party barely held New Jersey and New Mexico in 2024, with Trump cutting margins by 16 and 5 points respectively.
Analysts note Democratic leaders are “far removed from daily experiences” of non-college voters through education and geography. This elitist perception fuels working-class distrust, with Finnerty mocking Democrats as “weak, small, out-of-touch” people focused on “hysteric anti-Trump behavior” over kitchen-table issues.
While some Democrats hope Trump overreach could create 2028 opportunities, experts warn this would perpetuate destructive narrow majorities rather than build sustainable governing coalitions. The party’s path forward requires either dramatic moderation or complete ideological reinvention – neither option proving palatable to its fractured base.
