How to Give the Democratic Party Back to the People | Opinion [Video]

As former executive directors of state Democratic parties in so-called “red” states, we’ve seen firsthand the costs of Democratic disinvestment in year-round organizing and candidate recruitment. Over the past 40 years, national Democratic support has steadily been withdrawn from “red” states and rural communities, leaving state and county parties feeling neglected. Even worse—in 2022, Democrats left 51 percent of partisan down-ballot races uncontested, allowing half of all Republicans to go unchallenged. This failure has eroded the Democratic brand, with right-wing media filling the void and portraying Democrats as out-of-touch elites. Without sustained local organizing and candidate development, Democrats continue to fall behind in building a strong bench of relatable down-ballot leaders. In November, we paid the price.

The future of the Democratic Partydemands a different approach: starting with the acknowledgment that an “off year” doesn’t exist, that no single county warrants being overlooked, and culminating with a commitment to year-round organizing and party building …