Copyright The New York Times
With their election night triumphs on Tuesday, Democrats showed that their demoralized party — which spent the past year mired in self-recriminations and soul-searching — could still accomplish the most important goal in politics. They can win. And win big. The decisive victories for governor in Virginia and New Jersey and mayor of New York City and a major ballot initiative in California — which is likely to yield as many as five House seats for Democrats next year — demonstrated crucial signs of life for a party that was soundly defeated in all seven presidential battleground states, lost control of the Senate and failed to win the House just a year ago. The results showed a level of determination and energy among Democratic voters that was missing in that 2024 election. This time, their candidates were stronger, their campaigns focused intensely on affordability and an intense desire to deal a blow to President Trump. If the huge No Kings protests last month were the shot, Tuesday’s election was the chaser, with Democrats showing once more that they could turn out to deliver a powerful vote when Mr. Trump is in the White House. Yet for all the invigoration that success brings, the Democratic Party still hasn’t coalesced around a coherent political identity or a clear electoral playbook that can win in swing states and safe states alike. The results on Tuesday suggest that an intraparty battle may be looming for the Democrats as they get ready for difficult House and Senate midterm elections in 2026 and a wide-open presidential primary contest in 2027 and 2028. Are they more competitive as a centrist party in the mold of Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, the moderate new governors-elect of New Jersey and Virginia, both of whom focused their campaigns on attacking Mr. Trump rather than offering bold new ideas? Or is the party better positioned to make gains with a populist vision like that of Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won New York’s mayoral election with a sweeping critique of the excesses of capitalism and the promise of defeating the old guard of Democratic politics? Prominent Democratic leaders want to have it both ways, saying on Tuesday that it’s time for a new era of “big tent” politics within the party, accommodating both Mr. Mamdani’s fellow progressives and center-left establishment Democrats. These leaders think the key for Democrats — and a lesson from Tuesday’s results — is combining winning issues like the high cost of living with a be-everywhere, be-authentic style of campaigning and communicating, while focusing less on policies and litmus tests that divide the party. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
