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PHOENIX — A sense of discontent is brewing among the Democratic base.
This frustration is not solely directed at figures like President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk, but also at their own party leaders. Increasingly, grassroots Democrats are expressing dissatisfaction and exploring the option of replacing established party figures.
In Arizona, party members have removed their chair, while a similar movement is underway in Georgia. Notably, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has delayed his book tour as protests emerge, with progressives hinting at the need for a primary challenge against him.
The current resentment within the Democratic ranks parallels the tea party movement from 15 years ago, which significantly reshaped the Republican Party and led to the ousting of several incumbents.
“They definitely need to be concerned about maintaining their power, as there’s a genuine momentum against them,” expressed Paco Fabián, deputy director of Our Revolution, a grassroots organization aligned with independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. “The moment someone learns to tap into this energy, those in power will be in serious danger.”
Upcoming elections may offer national Democrats some hope. In Wisconsin, a nonpartisan state Supreme Court race has become a battleground highlighting Musk’s political sway, pitting conservative candidate Brad Schimel against liberal Susan Crawford, who is running on an anti-Musk platform. Similarly, special elections in Florida feature Democratic candidates significantly out-raising their Republican opponents in districts that heavily favor Trump.
However, the prevailing sense of frustration among Democrats is apparent and shows no signs of diminishing.
Recent polling reveals a stark shift in sentiment; a February Quinnipiac poll indicates nearly 50% of respondents disapprove of congressional Democrats’ performance, while only about 40% approve. This marks a drastic contrast to early 2021, when over 80% of Democrats expressed approval during President Joe Biden’s initial months in office. In 2017, shortly after Trump assumed the presidency and Democrats found themselves in the minority, about 60% were satisfied with their party’s efforts.
Further insights from a February CNN/SSRS poll revealed that approximately three-fourths of Democrats and Democratic-aligned independents feel that their congressional representatives are not adequately opposing Trump.
In light of a strategic Republican initiative aimed at transforming the government and reducing the workforce, Democrats have grappled with formulating a cohesive response.
The seeds of discontent were sowed early in Trump’s presidency when several Democratic senators supported his Cabinet nominees and legislative measures concerning immigration. This sentiment heightened following a joint address to Congress by Trump when Democratic lawmakers staged protests, donning coordinated outfits and displaying signs of dissent. Additionally, several Democrats voted alongside their Republican counterparts to censure U.S. Representative Al Green for interrupting Trump during the address.
Schumer particularly faced severe criticism after he opted not to impede a Republican-led funding bill, which many Democrats viewed as a failure to stand firm against Trump. Schumer argued that obstructing the bill would have been counterproductive, yet this perspective did not sit well with the more progressive factions in the party.
“I want to see a more vigorous opposition,” stated Stefan Therrien, a 22-year-old engineering student in Tempe, Arizona, who criticized congressional Democrats for being “too passive” in an attempt to sway moderates. “Democrats need to be more aggressive.”
“One must confront bullies; otherwise, they will dominate,” remarked Ken Human, a retired attorney who attended a Democratic-organized town hall in Lexington, Kentucky.
Such dissatisfaction is not unfamiliar following electoral defeat.
Following Barack Obama’s election in 2008, establishment Republicans experienced a significant backlash that played a crucial role in the emergence of the tea party, which displaced powerful incumbents in favor of a new breed of lawmakers focused on obstructing Obama’s agenda. Similarly, Democrats felt disheartened after George W. Bush’s re-election in 2004, but many anticipated significant gains in the upcoming midterms due to Bush’s declining popularity, according to Columbia University professor Robert Shapiro, who specializes in American politics.
Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 was particularly shocking for Democrats as it marked a turning point for Republican influence; the GOP gained a Senate majority after nearly three decades, although Democrats retained the House. Shapiro notes, “While the setback was considerable, it doesn’t compare to the current situation, where Trump not only won the presidency but did so alongside Republican control of both congressional chambers.”
Grassroots Democrats expressed immense frustration following Trump’s initial victory, with some indicating possible primary challenges against established leaders, but the main focus remained on organizing against the president and the GOP, as they prepared for the midterm elections.
The midterms brought pivotal changes, including the notable defeat of House Democrat Joe Crowley, the fourth-ranking Democrat, by relative newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Rallies attracting thousands to hear from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have underscored the growing demand for change as they represent a new insurgent wave within the Democratic Party.
Democratic leaders are also receiving pointed feedback from constituents during town halls, including those specifically arranged in Republican districts to highlight GOP representatives’ reluctance to engage spontaneously with their voters.
In Arizona, a state that backed Biden in 2020 only to swing to Trump again, party leaders took the unexpected step of ousting chair Yolanda Bejarano, a move that surprised many given her backing from prominent Democrats and widespread expectations of her securing a second term.
In Georgia, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams now finds herself under similar scrutiny as Trump successfully flipped the state. Recent changes by the Georgia party’s state committee have transformed the chairmanship into a full-time position, making it likely that Williams will have to resign her post before her term concludes in 2027 to continue serving in Congress.
Meanwhile, Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old liberal journalist and emerging political figure, has announced her candidacy for Congress, launching with a video critiquing the established Democrats for not evolving with the times.
“They fail to address current challenges, leaving their constituents in anger,” Abughazaleh commented during an interview. She acknowledges Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s long-standing progressive track record, but argues there is an urgent need for a cultural shift in political engagement and campaigning practices. “I refuse to sit idly by waiting for someone else to take initiative,” Abughazaleh concluded.
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Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner in Lexington, Ky., contributed to this report.
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