by Jan Gloor
Nearly a week after Election Day, the Associated Press has called the House of Representatives for the Republican Party. This victory grants the Republicans the so-called “trifecta” of powers within the U.S. government, giving President-elect Donald Trump significant freedom to implement his agenda. This conservative government is likely to enact sweeping tariffs, deport millions of undocumented immigrants, reduce regulatory agency powers, and adopt a hawkish stance on both the Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Although some of Trump’s cabinet appointees are moderates, many have longstanding pro-war and deregulatory views.
These election results have sparked critical reflection on the state of the Democratic Party. The Harris campaign struggled to increase voter share compared to President Biden’s previous performance, losing ground across nearly every county. Minority groups, particularly Hispanic voters who largely shifted to Trump, turned noticeably red, and low-income, blue-collar workers and farmers also moved further right. Despite Harris’s losses, however, swing states that went red in the presidential race—such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada—elected Democratic Senators. Even in the House, where Democrats ultimately fell short, they managed to flip some competitive seats. This raises the question: if Democrats could succeed in down-ballot races, why couldn’t they secure the presidency?
In the wake of Kamala Harris’s defeat, factions within the Democratic Party are increasingly blaming one another. The party’s left wing argues that Harris’s centrist strategy, aimed at attracting suburban Republican votes, was misguided. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont claimed the Democratic Party has moved away from its working-class roots, asserting that it now caters to “higher interests.” Some left-leaning Democrats have criticized Harris’s campaign for not adopting a less hawkish stance on Israel, which may have alienated Muslim voters, and for not distancing itself from the unpopular Biden administration.
Conversely, figures from the party’s center, such as Representative Ritchie Torres, blame the left for the election loss, contending that issues like transgender rights and the term “Latinx” alienated key voting blocs. This perspective has been echoed by various media pundits, although some have noted that identity politics were not central to Harris’s campaign.
The precise reasons behind Harris’s loss remain uncertain. It is possible that her defeat was simply a reflection of broader dissatisfaction with the current administration, which left her little room to gain traction with voters. However, it is clear that the Democratic Party must reconsider its campaign strategies moving forward. The election marks a critical turning point for the party, which now faces a choice: shift left to reconnect with its base or move further right, risking additional losses.