The Democratic Party is facing weeks of turmoil and self-criticism after the release of new Epstein emails, Senate divisions, and an unclear strategy heading into 2026. While Trump remains immune to scandal, the party’s lack of cohesion threatens to weaken its leadership at a decisive moment.
The last couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster ride of extreme highs and lows for the Democratic Party. Don’t get me wrong, I want the Democratic Party to regain power, but the political strategies displayed demonstrate that they are still playing “catch-up” and don’t have a plan for the future.
Democrats have had perceived highs marked by subjective election results, lows exemplified by the lack of unity in which eight Democratic senators (and one independent) voted with Republicans in favor of the continuing resolution that ended the longest government shutdown in history, and now, the release of more Epstein emails.
MIT SMR México se financia mediante anuncios y sociosThe latest release of Epstein emails by Democratic leadership continues to fuel the narrative that Trump was close friends with the convicted sex offender and suggests he knew about the victims being underage.
In a different time in American politics, just the rumor of something like that would have been enough to end any president’s political career, but Trump seems immune to any form of sexual scandal despite credible evidence that he had very real and close ties to Epstein.
It seems to me that Democrats are opting for a strategy of damaging Trump through scandal rather than building momentum based on his unpopular policies, the country’s grim economic projections, and the damage he caused to Republican voters through the government shutdown.
Language: A Key Factor in the Fight for the Next Midterm Elections
The recent elections were not so much a rejection of Donald Trump and his policies as they were a blueprint or test run for the Democratic Party in the critical 2026 midterm elections.
Of course, opposition to Trump was the main message that Democrats portrayed in their winning campaigns, but this election cycle was mostly a test of key messages for mobilizing voters in 2026. It was a political messaging exercise, and both parties benefited from it.
Democrats have positioned the passing of Proposition 50 in California and winning governorships in New Jersey and Virginia (with moderate candidates) as a reflection of the momentum they could carry into next year’s midterm elections.
That is true, but on the other hand, Zohran Mamradi’s victory in New York City’s mayoral race presents a challenge, as Republicans have seized the moment to portray the Democratic Party as having gone too far left, so much so that it embraces socialism and communism.
What both parties have to remember is that these were not national elections. They were selected elections in selected states, and that is not reflective of the national political landscape. Despite that, Democratic echo chambers were quick to portray the results as massive victories.
No state has taken a more significant stance against Donald Trump than California. Governor Newsom, the California State Attorney General, and the state legislature have made it a point to adopt policies and bring forth lawsuits that directly challenge Trump’s agenda.
Opposition actions from California include suing the federal government multiple times for conditioning federal grant money (for transportation, homeland security, and education) to compliance with Trump’s immigration policies, challenging environmental policies like the termination of green energy and solar panel initiatives, and adopting “sanctuary state” laws that protect undocumented immigrants.
Given its history of Trump opposition, it was no surprise that California voters passed Proposition 50, which aims to directly counter the Texas legislature’s redistricting efforts to gain five or more Republican seats in Congress in the 2026 elections.
California was selected as the battleground for this issue because it was a near-guaranteed victory, so it’s not truly an indicator of potential outcomes in the 2026 elections.
What is guaranteed is that redistricting efforts in the state will produce five more congressional districts that will increase the California congressional delegation and add to the national count. Currently, Republicans hold a six-seat majority in Congress (219 to 213).
Notably, the voter turnout in California exceeded expectations, with approximately 35% of voters casting or mailing their ballot. That’s much higher than the anticipated 15%, so there’s hope that Democratic turnout in the midterms will exceed expectations and be enough for them to regain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
A secondary narrative that came out of the Proposition 50 victory was the positioning of Governor Newsom as a viable presidential candidate.
But if the lauded Democratic gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey shed light on anything, it’s that centrist candidates are more likely to appeal to voters.
Unfortunately for Newsom, if he does decide to run for president, he will be portrayed as an extreme liberal (as Kamala Harris was), and his California politics will be a burden rather than an appeal to voters in purple/battleground states.
To his credit, he tested the waters with more conservative voters with a public relations tour of red counties in California. The results were mixed. When he launched his podcast earlier this year, his first guest was Charly Kirk, which marked a test of his appeal to younger conservatives. That experiment also yielded mixed results.
The Bully and the Coward: Trump’s Vulgar Display of Power
I’ve classified Democratic leadership in the past as being “robotic,” and they really showed it this time.
The longest government shutdown in the country’s history had begun to take its toll on the Republican Party. Democrats were winning the narrative, and before voting on the continuing resolution, most people were blaming Trump for the shutdown and its catastrophic impacts on the lives of millions of Americans.
Trump was being booed at football games, and the House Speaker Mike Johnson looked lost and struggled to answer questions on why Republicans were set about eliminating provisions that would negate healthcare for millions of Americans and significantly increase premiums for millions more.
Yes, millions of Americans (government workers and recipients of government benefits like food subsidies) were struggling, but the damage that Republicans were starting to accumulate was showing in the polls.
Then came the vote on the continuing resolution, and eight Democrats folded. Who is at fault for that? Chuck Schumer. He’s been either Majority or Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate since 2016, and yet, he was unable to keep his members from holding the line.
This is critical, because the 2026 midterms are not just going to be elections of members of Congress. Red states will also have a myriad of policies and initiatives that will require Democrats to demonstrate party unity. But it is clear that they can’t and that Schumer is not the leader that will motivate them to compromise on unity.
For what it’s worth, though, that has always been the Democrat’s weakness – they just can’t hold it together when tough times get tougher.
Democrats lost the political momentum by voting to end the government shutdown, but not all is lost.
The Associated Press published a recent survey that could spell big trouble for Republicans. The caveat is that the survey was taken before Democrats voted to end the government shutdown.
The survey indicates that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of the way Trump is managing the government, down from 43% in March.
The survey also shows that Republican support for how Trump has managed the government is down from 81% in March to 68%, and that independents’ approval dropped from 38% to 25%.
It may not seem like much, but we have to remember that Trump won the last election by shaving marginal numbers of voters from just about every demographic, so seeing his voter demographics diminish is a good sign.
As it was in 2024, the key to victory in 2026 will be the same. Voter turnout will be key, and that’s where Democrats need to focus.
Two Houses Divided: Conspiracies and a Lack of Leadership
