“Democrats need to appeal to more moderate voters,” according to Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon Jr.
He recognizes that being more moderate is “not as simple as it sounds.” However, looking at some of the Democrats who won in areas where Kamala Harris lost in November, there are 5 ways to appeal to “a moderate or centrist playbook that aspiring Democrats can easily follow and win.”
One way is “bipartisanship/not being too anti-Republican.” Bacon Jr. pointed to former President Joe Biden and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), as ‘stalwart Democrats.’ Meaning they take “pride in maintaining relationships with some Republican politicians and being able to reach agreements with them.”
Bacon Jr. claims. “This approach sometimes helps them attract independents and swing voters, including some Trump-skeptical Republicans.”
Second is to be centric ‘on economic issues.’ Similar to former President Bill Clinton and former West Virginia senator Joe Manchin III. This gives candidates an appeal to “upper-income swing voters and donors.”
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“Centrism on cultural-social issues” proved fruitful for Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Congresspersons Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).
Bacon Jr. believes this could work best in 2028 for former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. It appeals to “culturally conservative swing voters,” but it could be perceived as “bad on policy [and] may depress the progressive vote.”
The two other ideas Bacon Jr. noted include “Distancing from the Democratic Party” and “Moderation in persona.”
Bacon Jr. recognizes that all of these ideas could turn off more progressive parts of the base. Yet he still believes, “it’s possible that Democrats can win in the 2026 and 2028 elections without any of these moderation strategies, particularly if Trump becomes more unpopular.”
“I was overjoyed by that uncertainty in 2008, when a liberal Black man shockingly led Democrats to a sweeping victory. I am terrified by that uncertainty now,” Bacon Jr. opined. “An authoritarian movement has taken control of the government, and there is no clear way to defeat it. Democrats should try many electoral strategies in the next four years. And we can’t be sure any of them will work.”