Opinion Discussion: How Democrats Win in 2028

Inspired by The New York Times Opinion’s “The Conversation.”

Abby Tribush: Hi George—happy free day! I woke up this morning to see that eight Democratic senators just sided with Republicans to reopen the government. This ends the longest shutdown in American history—forty-two days. Plus, with the most recent elections—in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey—we are seeing a shift in the Democratic party. What do you think these recent events suggest about the future of the party?

George Thornton: Happy free day, Abby—I think the most important takeaway from the elections is that while progressives may win in New York City, they won’t win in competitive areas that reflect the nation’s broader political diversity. Hopefully more Democrats realize those eight defectors were right to reopen the government they’re responsible for funding. And hopefully this act of political courage sends a message that the Party is interested in working for the American people.

Abby: Yeah. In the three big wins for Democrats, affordability seems to have taken precedence over the divisive culture-war stances that defined Harris’s presidential campaign. In New Jersey and Virginia, both candidates’ emphasis on affordability drew back Latino voters that President Trump decisively won over, both holding a 30% lead with Latino voters. Will these Democratic victories in Virginia and New Jersey push the party away from cultural-war politics? Or does Mamdani’s win suggest that social issues are still at the forefront of Democrats' minds?

George: It’s crucial that influential Democrats don’t conflate the will of New York City voters with the general sentiment of the country. Could a Mamdani-type candidate win California, Massachusetts, and other deep-blue states in a presidential election? Probably. But Democrats need to win swing states, and the 2024 election suggested that Harris's culture war stances alienated persuadable voters. Like you said, refocusing on simple policies and problems—like affordability—seems promising. Democrats need to develop a better alternative rather than just denouncing Trump and his supporters.

Abby: While I agree that affordability is a winning position, I think that Democrats must still stand up to Trump without getting lost in the Epstein files and Trump’s daily offensive comments on Truth social. The democratic party’s main bargaining chip is the fact that they do not stoop to the level of Trump and his cronies.

George: Since Trump’s election, Democrats’ efforts to push back against MAGA have flopped. Take the shutdown: the Democrats held the government hostage, putting hundreds of thousands of government employees and the military on furlough while refusing to perform their basic legislative duty. They did this in order to retain Covid-era healthcare subsidies, passed by Democrats, that they themselves set to expire in 2025. The story of this shutdown reads, to me, as another failure of liberal optics. In an attempt to combat Trump, they’ve jeopardized American workers.

Abby: But no one party is to blame for the shutdown. Both parties need to compromise in order to approve the funding for each fiscal year; thus, it is the job of both parties to pass the bill in order to keep the government running. While this unpaid work is devastating for American federal workers, it would also be devastating if funding for the Affordable Care Act was not protected. This shutdown is not solely about Democrats refusing to take the high ground; it is about Democrats using their minority powers to protect their constituents. Looking long-term, the left needs a moderate leader that can compromise more effectively with Republicans.

George: I think a proven governor of a politically competitive state is the best bet—Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky in particular. Gavin Newsom of California has been making headlines, but the Party needs to break away from the “coastal elite” image it has cultivated in recent years. Shapiro has an approval rating of 60% in a critical swing state that Trump won in 2024. His M.O. is proving that the government can work for the people—one of his signature feats as governor is the rebuilding of a collapsed highway in only 12 days.

Abby: Look, I love Shapiro. He’s likeable and well-spoken, but he is Jewish. As a Jew myself, I am skeptical that Shapiro can win the nomination, given the increase in antisemitism from the left. Beshear or, more realistically Newsom—as polarizing as he can be—have a greater chance.

George: The three recent elections, with the exception of New York City, offer some hope for Democrats interested in winning a national election again. While the Democratic party is at a crossroads, Trump’s approval ratings have hit all-time lows. I’m cautiously optimistic that Democratic leaders can condemn the anti-Semitism rampant on the far-left and choose a more politically moderate path forward.

George Thornton ’26 & Abby Tribush ‘26