Democratic base voters don’t stay home because they like Republicans, but because their own party offers them nothing to latch onto, no bigger or broader program to join up to, and no reason to say, “I’m a proud Democrat!” Even the leadership’s windmill tilting is milquetoast.
Style AND Substance
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign did something rare. It matched his personal charisma with simple, appealing ideas and communicated them effectively. We need more candidates with swagger in addition to policy prescriptions. We do, in fact, live in a reality-TV era. Whether you agree is immaterial. If you see soaring oratory, humor, and willingness to jab an opponent as beneath you, I ask you to take a look at a certain Illinois Senator’s 2008 campaign. Or an Arkansan’s 1992 campaign.
Storytelling, despite what Derek Thompson thinks, is integral to politics. It’s been integral since we were sitting around the campfire 10,000 years ago. Voters aren’t electing ChatGPT or an encyclopedia. Telling a good story is not easy for everyone. For some of us, it takes years of practice. The alternative being vanilla-ice cream social media posts and bland websites full of poll-tested pablum won’t do it in 2026. I’m not sure it ever worked.
Political Jiu-Jitsu
According to Gemini, jiu-jitsu is defined as: “A martial art emphasizing using an opponent's force against them through leverage, throws, and grappling, rather than brute strength, making it effective for smaller individuals.”
Donald Trump is the perfect opponent for this political tactic. He says and does outlandish things every minute of the day. He makes outlandish statements and announces policy on Truth Social. All you need to defeat him is out there.
For example: Last month Trump announced that he wanted to cap interest on credit cards at 10%. Right on cue, banks and card issuers got the vapors, then went into full panic: “We won’t be able to lend money to people anymore!”
If Democrats were on the ball, they’d have said, “We rarely agree with President Trump, but on this issue, we do. We are bringing a bill to the floor TODAY to give his proposal immediate force of law and get American consumers out from under years of usury.”
What would this have done? First, those with credit card debt would appreciate your support. Next, you’d take on banks as a worthy opponent. Third, and most important, you’d drive your Republican opponents into a box canyon; forcing them to confront a Catch 22: Take on the banks or disagree publicly with their boss. Regardless of their answers, there’s your campaign message.
Win. Win. Win.
Early Action Beats Late Money
In my now more than six years fighting alongside Democrats, I’ve been frustrated, angered, and fascinated with their unwillingness to commit significant resources to campaigns before Labor Day. In the summer of 2024 I asked why Future Forward, the leading Democratic super PAC wasn’t filling the void after President Biden’s debate debacle. The answer, “Chauncey doesn’t believe in early money.”
My response? “Who the fuck is Chauncey, and who deputized him to decide the fate of the Republic?”
A million dollar investment into a grassroots organization, like say The Union, is worth 10x what it will be when that same money is dumped into a billion dollar pot of cash destined for media consultants, media buyers, and local sales guys. Designing a comprehensive grassroots plan, on a district by district basis, then deploying volunteers and other assets out into the field is far more valuable than 1,000 gross rating points of television come October.
Voter registration, recruitment of poll watchers and poll workers, early grassroots activation and early one-on-one voter contact can turn low-propensity voters into mid-propensity voters, and mid-propensity voters into people sure to show up in November. None of this is rocket science. It is a commitment, though, to get back to the roots of why anyone cares about elections, politics, or the country.
There is also an adjunct benefit to this work: The more fired up, mobilized, and organized pro-democracy forces and Democratic candidates are, the less likely Trump lackeys around the country are to try and fool with elections this fall. For sure, they will try, and already are (Minneapolis, Fulton County, anyone?) but a demonstration of strength and numbers is essential to avoiding the unimaginable.
Do You Want to Win?
To win at all, Democrats must, at long last, understand the nature of the fight we’re in. If they maintain their past plans and strategy they may take the US House. We’re missing a huge opportunity, though, if we play it safe. This year must be an historic repudiation of the country’s path and a clear-sighted vision for an alternative future. If those that are in charge will not take up the mantle, it’s up to the rest of us…Again.
-Reed
