Donald J. Trump is back in the White House, and many Americans are wondering how it happened — again. But if you’re looking for someone to blame, don’t start with Trump or his base. Look to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The 2024 election didn’t have to end this way. It was lost not on the debate stage, not in a swing state, but in the back rooms of a party that has drifted from its core values and shut out any path to renewal.
Party Hijacked
Over the last several years, the Democratic Party has increasingly catered to its most extreme factions. Instead of representing a broad coalition of working-class Americans, small business owners, and centrists — those who used to be its backbone — the party chose to placate Twitter activists, fringe ideologues and identity politics zealots. The result? A party that no longer speaks to the concerns of the average voter. While the GOP rallied around a candidate who, for better or worse, they believed would fight for their interests, the Democrats offered a brand that felt out of touch, overcorrected and elitist.
Cover-Up
Joe Biden should never have been running in 2024. By the final year of his term, it was clear to anyone paying attention that he was not mentally fit for office. Slurred speeches, moments of confusion and an increasingly narrow public schedule became the norm. And yet, everyone around him — his aides, advisors, Cabinet members and, yes, the DNC chose to look the other way. Instead of allowing for a transparent conversation about succession, the DNC closed ranks and insisted on presenting Biden as the only option. That decision doomed the Democrats from the start.
Ineffective and Hidden
The Democrats’ backup plan was Vice President Kamala Harris, a politician who had long been viewed with skepticism by voters across the spectrum. Harris had failed to inspire in the 2020 primaries, never breaking through despite heavy media backing. Once in office, she was kept largely out of sight, rarely interviewed and avoided the tough political battlegrounds. Her unpopularity was well known, yet the DNC refused to reckon with it. Instead, she was protected, insulated and ultimately offered up as a de facto successor without any democratic process. The result? A ticket that inspired no one and alienated many.
Candidacy Silenced
There was, in fact, an alternative. Congressman Dean Phillips — a successful entrepreneur, a thoughtful moderate and a proven public servant — entered the Democratic primary with a clear message: America deserved a new generation of leadership. But the DNC never gave him a chance. They actively worked to keep him off ballots in key states, denied him debate opportunities and used every tool at their disposal to anoint Biden as the nominee by default. The DNC claimed to be the party of democracy while silencing one of its most viable options.
Phillips’ Potential
Dean Phillips wasn’t a long shot. He was the rare candidate who could have bridged America’s divides. His record in business and politics made him credible to independents. His Midwestern roots and pragmatic tone appealed to swing state voters. And his character — open, honest, humble — stood in stark contrast to both Biden’s faltering presence and Trump’s bombast. Need proof? Go back two years and listen to the podcast featuring Dean Phillips, Elon Musk and Bill Ackman, a conversation that’s still available on YouTube. Musk, a lifelong centrist who had mostly voted Democratic before 2020, openly said he would support Phillips over Trump. Ackman, a billionaire investor who leans libertarian, echoed the sentiment. That podcast was a warning shot, and the DNC ignored it.
DNC Loss
Democrats didn’t lose in 2024 because the country suddenly fell in love with Donald Trump. They lost because their own leadership refused to listen. They lost because the DNC chose control over competition, coronation over conversation. They shut out the candidate who could have changed the game, and they doubled down on incumbency, even as the country begged for something new. If you’re mad about Trump being re-elected, you should be furious with the DNC. They had a real opportunity to pivot — to restore credibility, re-engage moderates and offer a vision for the future. Instead, they circled the wagons around a failing status quo.
New Leadership
The DNC must change, and it must change fast. The party needs leaders who speak for the many, not just the loudest few, leaders who understand the values of hard work, honesty and unity. Dean Phillips represented that path, and he still can. If the Democrats want to win again, they need to rebuild from the center. They need to rediscover the pragmatic, hopeful politics that once defined them. And they could do no better than to start with Dean Phillips. Because if we let the same people make the same choices again in 2028, we already know how that story ends. Listen to the conversation between Dean Phillips, Elon Musk and Bill Ackman here. It’s time we paid attention.
Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, holding company of Oklahoma Gazette.
Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.
This article appears in Jan 3, 2025 – Dec 31, 2026.