‘We’ve got to energize this party’: Democratic Party struggles to stay relevant in the Trump era

Democratic Party Challenges & Opportunities - The Democratic Party faces challenges in resonating with Americans, with only 27% of registered voters holding a positive view in an NBC News poll [3] - A significant 65% of people want Democrats to stick to their positions even if it causes gridlock, versus 32% who prefer compromise with Trump [4] - The Democratic Party needs to move beyond internal debates and effectively stand up to Donald Trump and the Republican Party [2] - The Democratic Party should pay attention to figures like Senator Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett who are effectively channeling public sentiment [5][6] Grassroots Movements & Local Engagement - Large-scale protests and town halls indicate a desire for action not currently led by the Democratic Party [1][2] - Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew tens of thousands to events, highlighting potential for grassroots mobilization [7][8] - The "No Kings" nationwide day of protests involved an estimated 4 million to 6 million people [9] - Local elections and state legislatures are critical areas for engagement, as much of the perceived damage originates at the state level [19][20] Strategic Recommendations - The Democratic Party should encourage progressives to get involved at the local level, such as becoming precinct committee people, to influence party platforms and candidate selection [16][17] - The Democratic Party needs to shift from primarily defensive strategies in blue areas to offensive strategies, actively running candidates in red districts to hold Republican state representatives accountable [20][21][22] - The Democratic Party should focus on core values like clean elections, equal opportunity, and the dignity of work, framing policy proposals within these values [29]