Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
The Democratic party needs to change, readers say. Here’s how.
“Figure out how to help working people make it in today's economy,” one respondent said.
In a scathing op-ed in The Boston Globe on Sunday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders gave the Democratic party an ultimatum of sorts: “either you stand with the powerful oligarchy of our country, or you stand with the working class. You can’t represent both.” Boston.com readers overwhelmingly agree.
The Vermont senator said Democrats have “abandoned” the working class and failed to see the anger many feel as “the very rich are getting much richer.” In doing so, Sanders said the party handed the 2024 election to Donald Trump, who tapped into that anger.
Advertisement:
“In my view, the Democrats lost this election because they ignored the justified anger of working class America and became the defenders of a rigged economic and political system,” he wrote.
Indeed, Donald Trump’s sway among voters was apparent even in liberal strongholds like Massachusetts, a state that has been reliably Democratic since 1928.
Despite Harris’s victory in the Commonwealth, Trump was popular in large swaths of Plymouth, Bristol, Worcester, and Hampden counties. The town that he won most definitively was Acushnet, with 72% of the vote. Trump garnered 60% or more of the vote in Granville, Blandford, Berkley, Phillipston, and Wales.
Advertisement:
While the geography of Trump’s support remained about the same between 2020 and 2024, his margins of victory were generally larger in this election in the towns that he did win, and he was closer in the towns that he lost.
Nationally, many Democrats failed to turn out to vote at the rate they did in 2020, according to a New York Times analysis of election data.
Counties with the biggest Democratic victories in 2020 gave 1.9 million fewer votes to Kamala Harris than they had for Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the nation’s most Republican-heavy counties delivered an additional 1.2 million votes to Trump this year, according to the analysis of the 47 states where the vote count is largely complete.
Boston.com readers overwhelmingly agreed with Sanders’ remarks that the Democratic party needs a shake-up. Of the more than 350 respondents to our poll, a whopping 97% said the Democratic party needs to change.
Does the Democratic party need to change?
Yes
97%
No
3%
Sanders urged Democrats to fight for a series of “working class priorities” that range from a $17 per hour federal minimum wage to Social Security reforms, universal health care, free tuition to public colleges, affordable child care, low income and affordable housing, and a progressive tax system that will force the nation’s wealthiest individuals to “start paying their fair share.”
Advertisement:
Many Boston.com readers cited these issues among the priorities they’d like to see the party take on, in addition to more structural changes and other reforms.
Below, readers share the changes they’d like to see the Democratic party make going forward.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
What changes would you like to see the Democratic party make?
‘Fight for the everyday Joe like me’
“Livable wages, affordable housing, universal healthcare, free tuition, etc. Bernie is 100% right; the Democrats have abandoned the working class, and that is why Trump won.” – P.C., Somerville
“I’m with Bernie on this one. I’m old enough to remember when blue-collar and working people, unions, and inner cities were all Democratic. I think working people are justified in thinking the Democratic party is not doing anything to help them with the high cost of living and healthcare for all but the very wealthy. Trump will not do anything for working people, either, but I think they fell for his promises that things will be different under his administration. I think the Democratic party needs to take a hard look in the mirror and try to figure out how to help working people make it in today’s economy.” – Jennifer, Peabody
“The Democratic agenda must work to address economic issues that affect the average worker or retiree, such as national minimum wage and additional coverages under Medicare, including dental and hearing aids. The Democratic party continues to emphasize identity politics and other issues propagated by the party elites at its own peril.” – Chris, West Roxbury
“Honestly stand by the working class and ensure changes are made for progressive taxation to take place. The rich in this country already have so much!” – Susanna K., Cambridge
“Fight for the everyday Joe like me. I live paycheck to paycheck in Vermont. Focus more on all the issues (not just Trump or whoever is the candidate).” – Steven J., Essex, Vermont
‘It is time for a massive change in the party’s leadership’
“I agree with Sanders, the Democrats have abandoned their core values in hopes of appealing to the mythical ‘liberal Republican.’ The Democrats handed Trump the election through their hubris and disdain for the American people. It is time for a massive change in the party’s leadership.” – Mike, Lincoln
“The party needs to reach into its talent pool for the true charismatic rainmakers of the next generation (e.g. Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Jeff Jackson, Kamala Harris, and even Republicans like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger). These are the future of America, these are the people we should support.” – Conor L., Boston
“It is time to forget about parties, electoral college and elect or appoint a qualified candidate, with a resume that expels excellence, a deep understanding of law, economics, defense and leadership excellence. Going backwards is not the answer, moving forward and the current structure of electing a leader to run the country needs to change.” – Tay, Salisbury
“They just need to fire the DNC [leadership]. Two willing elections lost because the DNC force fed us candidates instead of feeling out the base.” – Steve, Brighton
‘Stop pushing identity politics’
“The party has become beholden to the fringe elements who espouse views that are not in line with the average American; this is why Trump was able to win the popular vote. People were, and are, not fooled by all his rhetoric, but many of the positions pushed by the Democratic leadership are not aligned with the thinking of Americans and American workers. This caused some to vote for Trump, and caused many more to stay home out of disgust; the vote totals, compared to previous elections, prove this point.” – Richard G., Dorchester
“Act in the interests of the vast majority in the middle, not on the agenda of the far-left. Remember the majority votes their wallet first, security second.” – Otis, Boston
“Stop pushing identity politics. Address the border issue with a solution instead of hate. Admit that the economy isn’t working for many Americans and propose a solution.” – John P., Boston
“Stop catering to liberal and progressive issues such as transgender issues, DEI, increased taxation to fund bigger government, etc. Instead, focus on pocketbook issues such as the economy, inflation, and out-of-control immigration.” – Jeff, Framingham
‘Listen to its constituents’
“The Democratic Party needs to wake up and listen to its constituents! Stop showing graphs and statistics of low employment and a great economy, when a gallon of milk was $3.50 just two years ago and now it’s $7 dollars! People don’t want to see charts, they want corporate greed to be stopped so they can afford groceries. They want universal healthcare, so they don’t have to file bankruptcy over medical bills. They need to be able to afford housing and childcare.” – Susan S., Scituate
“Suggestion for the Democrats: go meet some Trump voters, and also some non-voters, and listen to what they have to say. Really listen. It may take a while. Only then will you be able to come up with a game plan to win voters back.” – Michael, Concord
“I think it’s really simple. The Democratic party needs to start listening to what we think, instead of telling us what to think.” – Bill, Brighton
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com