Politicians like Andy Beshear need to start a new national Democratic Party | Opinion
Gov. Andy Beshear has proven that Democrats can win in deeply Republican states by focusing on policies that resonate with working-class and rural voters. His leadership in expanding Medicaid, investing in public education, and navigating crises such as natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic has garnered bipartisan approval. Beshear’s ability to maintain strong support in a red state underscores the importance of pragmatic governance and messaging that prioritizes people’s daily concerns over partisan battles. If Democrats are looking for a model to rebuild their party’s credibility, they should take cues from Beshear’s approach.
With recent polling indicating that Democrats are aboard a sinking ship, it is time for the Democrats to consider a full national rebranding exercise where old leaders are tossed overboard, popular policies are put in the forefront, and past mistakes are acknowledged and apologized for. Even those within the Democrat Party are feeling the disillusionment, and anybody who cares about the livelihood of the Democrat Party should not kid themselves —the old guard needs to go.
While politicians like Bernie Sanders are running around deep red republican districts putting a new version of American oligarchy on notice, Democrats need to take a page out of his book. Even if Sanders’ policies or beliefs are too left wing for most people, there is a respect he assumes because of his consistency of being an anti-establishment figure in the America politic. Even with that said, if the Democrats are relying on 83-year-olds to fight their battles for them, all signals point to there being big foundational problems within the party.
One of the biggest problems Democrats face is their obsession with seniority in their ranks. We all know how important experience is for higher positions at work, yet when it comes to American politics, there is constant change. What we are experiencing is a generation political battle — simply put, the Democrats do not have the right soldiers in the front line for that battle. If you are more focused on putting politicians in positions of power based how long they’ve been office rather than their effectiveness, maybe that is a part of the reason the Democrats are losing the working class.
We cannot rely on politicians who still politic like it is the 1990’s and President Bill Clinton is in charge. My grandparents are conservative Democrats and if they are complaining when Bill Clinton is giving a speech at the DNC, who are the Democrats even trying to? The same goes with my grandparents’ feelings about Chuck Shumer and Nancy Pelosi — they could not care less about them. These old guard Democratic politicians no longer have practical use within the party. You can respect what they have accomplished but as we learned with former President Joe Biden, you cannot underestimate a politician’s ego even if the fate of the country is in the balance.
Overall, the Democrats are at a crossroads, and the path they walk down will determine the viability of the party for years to come. If the continuation of using outdated leadership to message is the principle the party stands by, then there is further risk of alienation from working class voters. If more politicians like Andy Beshear step up and fill the vacuum of leadership, they will have an opportunity to rebuild and re-energize their base. There will be no better time for Democrats to prove they can evolve, inspire, and lead a reformed Democratic Party that, frankly, Republicans will not have an answer for.
Matt Otto has worked in various Democratic campaigns at multiple positions and is currently a student in the University of Kentucky Masters of Public Administration Program.