Staff Reports
Democrats are finding it hard to pick up the pieces following President-elect Donald Trump’s stunning victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Instead of showing the typical outrage and resistance, the Democrats appear to be more like deer in headlights this time around. Trump, the comeback kid, secured 312 Electoral College votes, outpacing his previous total from 2016 by a landslide and even sweeping all seven battleground states. This election not only saw Trump winning the popular vote but also making headway with minority voters, piercing through the Democrats’ decades-old voter coalition. And if that wasn’t enough to make Democrats cringe, the GOP has maintained control of the House and flipped the Senate, giving them full governing power while expanding their majority on the Supreme Court to 6-3.
Immediately after the election results rolled in, many Democratic activists seemed to hit the snooze button on any protests or marches. Instead of organizing resistance, some high-flying Democratic celebrities began packing their bags, presumably looking for the nearest exit out of Trump’s America. Harris’s concession speech, delivered at Howard University, called on supporters to stay hopeful and keep fighting. However, the lack of enthusiasm from her base suggests that many have already thrown in the towel, opting for self-care over political engagement.
🚨🇺🇸DEEP DEMOCRATIC DESPAIR AFTER TRUMP VICTORY
Democrats are stunned, losing not just to Trump, but across the Senate, House, and even strongholds in states and cities.
The defeat is hitting hard—party insiders call it a “bloodbath,” as losses span working-class voters,… pic.twitter.com/eGYAgOpuBe
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 8, 2024
Some die-hard Democrats claim they are merely taking a moment to reflect, like Kassel Coover from Pennsylvania, who confessed to being too glum to engage in current events. Focused on “self-preservation,” Coover might just be a prime example of how this election left many in the party feeling like they need a long vacation rather than a strategic regroup. The immediate aftermath of the election has left Democrats pointing fingers and grasping at straws, with many expressing disbelief that Harris could lose the election.
Unsurprisingly, some Democrats are already whining about Biden’s decision to run again at his advanced age, while others, like Bernie Sanders, are taking shots at the party for abandoning working-class voters. The mood on the Democratic side could best be described as one of collective despair, with even some party leaders considering a strategic timeout before they decide their next moves. Sharonda Huffman, a DNC delegate, suggested that maybe it’s time for some serious soul-searching within the party.
While some groups like Indivisible are making plans to fight back against Trump, it remains unclear how vibrant their resistance will be compared to the record turnout seen in previous elections. The prospect of a Women’s March is in the works, but there are concerns that they won’t come close to matching the 500,000 protesters from 2017. Even some organizers are hesitant about the march, advising that resources could be better spent directing funds to organizations that truly make a difference in local communities.
Democrats eventually need to confront the stark reality that they must shake off the elitism that’s been their kryptonite. A sense of urgency is growing, especially as Trump prepares to assemble his Cabinet, which could shake things up and awaken the sleeping giants in the opposing party. If they don’t do a serious 180 and start addressing the concerns that prompted a whopping 76 million Americans to vote for Trump, they might just find themselves lounging in the political shadows for years to come.
