Recently, this year’s Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, surpassed 270 electoral college votes in the 2020 general election, defeating President Donald Trump. The Biden-Harris ticket proved to be too much for a Trump administration that had a truly trying year. 

By all accounts, this year’s election cycle was historic, and its ramifications will reach far beyond any individual political trend. For instance, Kamala Harris will be the first woman of color to serve as vice president. It goes without saying this is a milestone in American politics that should be remembered. In addition, the success of the Biden-Harris campaign may hint at a potential shift in voter mindset, as well as encourage a change in Democratic leadership. 

The election of Joe Biden as commander-in-chief serves as a clear sign that the Democratic Party and its leaders should embrace a more moderate ideology that will resonate with not only Democratic voters, but the country overall. When viewed in the context of modern day progressive politics and Trump’s America, it is easy to see why an “old school” candidate, such as Joe Biden, was viewed as someone who could heal a wounded nation. The party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy may be on the verge of a comeback, the likes of which working class people would gladly welcome.

At one point during the 2020 election cycle, there were more than 25 candidates in the Democratic field. After the unexpected success of the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign, it was largely assumed that he or another progressive would be the 2020 nominee. Thought to be somewhat radical at the time, Sanders’ platform of democratic socialism became an increasingly popular school of thought in the years leading up to this election. Ideas such as defunding the police, socialized medicine, the Green New Deal and an extreme income tax on the extremely wealthy have become much more mainstream. Leaders such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren and Sanders are no longer the exception, and have instead become the norm. 

Moderates are now obsolete — or so we thought. In a strange twist, moderates were able to hang tough during debates and on the campaign trail. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg enjoyed success in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, respectively. Ultimately, it was Biden, the epitome of an “old school” Democrat, who dominated the Democratic field. Once the candidates reached South Carolina, Biden took a commanding delegate lead. He was able to outlast Sanders and win the nomination. 

It is important to keep this in mind when considering the future of the Democratic Party. There was a critical opportunity for voters to show their interest in progressive candidates who were proposing grandiose policy changes, and instead they flocked to Joe Biden. 

Unlike Sanders, Biden campaigned on the idea of unity. Sanders sought to transform the country, while Biden wished to remind everyone how great we can be. While Sanders spoke of revolution, Biden spoke of reform. If Democratic voters across the country were ready for major policy changes, Biden would not have won the nomination. 

Far-left Democratic ideas may garner support in states such as New York and California, but members of the party in smaller, more rural states are simply looking for effective reform. Biden won the primaries based on his moderate stances, and in terms of style, he is a throwback politician willing to work with Republicans to get the job done. This is a rarity and was an integral part of his bid for the presidency, especially in the age of Trump.

Biden received the most votes of any presidential candidate in U.S. history. Right behind him is current President Donald Trump. For a moment, I will put aside my own partisan bias. I did not vote for Donald Trump, but I certainly understand that he has had a profound impact on not only the Republican Party, but our democracy as well. 

In 2016, he defeated Hillary Clinton in the general election by appealing to middle America. Voters from Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and elsewhere shocked the world when they flipped their respective states red. They saw in Trump the antithesis of coastal “communists” and “elites” who had forgotten about farmers and other blue collar workers. Ever since the victory, President Trump has been lauded by some and despised by others. 

In 2020, it is clear that his base is still very much alive. They approve of his tax cuts, strong “law and order” rhetoric and hardline stance on China. His supporters also believe that Trump created the greatest economy in American history; however, this is largely up for debate. Regardless of my own personal opinion on Trump, he clearly shook up Washington. So much so that it required the largest ever voter turnout to defeat him in this year’s election. 

As a Democrat, I have recently wondered, would Bernie Sanders have defeated Trump in this election? I have come to the conclusion that he would not have. Biden was able to flip states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania precisely because he offered a moderate alternative. I would venture to say that many swing state voters only voted for Trump in 2016 because he promised a strong economy and vowed to cut taxes. Most of these individuals are not concerned with a coastal revolution. 

In 2020, this same block of voters (both Republicans and Democrats) would not have embraced Sanders’ ideas on health care or his tax plan. However, a politician like Joe Biden provided a familiar alternative. Much like an old school Democrat, Biden postured himself as a respectable candidate who would fight for working people. Along with his pledge to heal the nation’s soul, he stated he would only raise taxes on individuals who make $400,000 or more annually and has publicly rejected ideas such as defunding the police, completely shutting the economy due to COVID-19 concerns and abolishing private health insurance. Obviously, these are only a few of the issues that our country is facing, but these are the stances that elevated Biden in the general election. As a moderate, Biden created the worst case scenario for Trump and his allies. They would not be able to simply cry “socialist” and convince middle class Americans to vote red. 

In an America that has been influenced by “Trumpism,” a moderate Democrat that promises continuous improvement and policy reform is the winning formula. In fact, the lack of this formula in 2016 is what led to the election of President Trump. The Democrats are supposed to be the party of the middle class, not the coastal elites. It is time Democratic leadership shifts to properly convey this loyalty. The election of Joe Biden could be the first step towards the rebirth of a lost ideology — the same ideology that was made great by “old school” Democrats for decades.

Colin Loughran, FCRH ’23, is a film and television major from Yonkers, N.Y.