By Dakota Calcaterra
Vice President | Fordham College Republicans
President-elect Donald Trump has won the Electoral College, the popular vote and the presidency. Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign now stands alongside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s effort as one of the worst moments in recent Democratic presidential history. To understand how we got here, it’s important to reflect on two truths: the Democratic Party failed to learn the lessons of past defeats, and the Republican Party has reshaped the American political landscape, obtaining a sweeping mandate in the process.
Maybe it was the lack of open primaries. Maybe it was Gaza. Maybe it was even “brat.” Whatever it is that you have chosen in your mind as the cause of Harris’ loss, it will inevitably lead back to a lack of awareness and a degree of arrogance in Democratic leadership during the election’s home stretch. Party leaders have not learned the major lessons of 2016 when the Clinton campaign was shunned by progressives who believed the Democratic National Convention had undermined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and then floundered with a failed strategy of high-road moralizing in the face of attacks. The American people are sick of being spoken down to, of being treated as if they’ll never understand what they “should” be concerned about. In 2028, the Democrats would do well to remember that “The West Wing” is not a political instruction manual. They need to find a message that reflects the hopes of voters now instead of in the 1990s, and to do that, they have to embrace what people want instead of what they want them to want.
None of this should take away from the scale of the Republican victory. The results prove that Trump’s win in 2016 was not a freak occurrence, but rather the genesis of a new movement in American politics. The votes, and voters, won by the GOP in this election have challenged every assumption about political demographics and coalitions. Instead of there being a Trump presidency for historians to reflect on, we now have a Trump era, likely lasting beyond the next four years. Even when he leaves office four years from now, his influence will still be felt, and the effect will not be localized to a single party. The Trump era will reflect the new administration’s focus on international peace, protectionism and border security. For social issues, the president will likely delegate decisions to his vice president and the cabinet, which will be made up of culture warriors and unorthodox policymakers. These figures are the new establishment of the Republican Party and the new trendsetters of national politics.
By Caroline Lehman
Secretary, Fordham College Democrats
Post-election, I have been filled with intense grief, anger, fear and shock. It is a feeling I can only akin to the pain of experiencing the loss of a loved one: waking up every day and experiencing 10 seconds of peace before remembering the impending four years of political doom or bursting into tears in public. Because in what was such a critical election, America chose hatred for the supposed sake of the economy.
President-elect Donald Trump’s re-election poses serious threats to women’s bodily autonomy, welfare, education, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants, the First Amendment and democracy. Trump has made it apparent that he will violate the federal Constitution by targeting those who disagree with him.
I have made it my life’s mission to improve the lives of the underserved through participation in our political system. Despite the rise in political violence and hateful, classless, identity-based attacks that have been perpetuated for much of my conscious memory of American politics, prior to this week, I maintained a sense of optimism and a belief in the promise of this country.
In light of this outcome, I am uncertain about many things right now, including my early career trajectory in politics, but what I do know is that we must continue to fight for our fundamental rights and freedoms together. Unity and action are crucial if we are to uphold our democracy.
By Daniel Sponseller, Fordham College Democrats
After some reflection, there are some reasons that can explain this massive loss for Democrats. While it is true that there is racism and sexism in this country, and that it may have simply been impossible for Harris to appeal to rural voters in swing states, there is introspection that needs to happen by the Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris had an impressive economic agenda, which included forgivable loans for housing and small business, building more affordable housing, and combatting price gouging, but Harris said there would be “absolutely no difference” between her administration and President Joe Biden’s. Regardless of how you feel about Biden’s policies, connecting yourself to him is political suicide.
To start winning elections again, Democrats need to return to their roots of advocating for structural economic change because that is what the people desire. People are not able to afford basic living expenses, homes, college or healthcare. Meanwhile, Democrats are giving billions of dollars to foreign wars and saying the economy is “stronger than it’s ever been.” The biggest reason the Democrats lost wasn’t third-party candidates or bigotry; it was their failure to separate from Biden and offer a new path forward.
