And about ~55-60 million votes in midterm elections?
Those are roughly the numbers the democrats need to win federal elections (the numbers needed to win state and local elections are much lower, and its important to vote in those too).
Biden got 81 million votes in 2020, Harris got 75 million votes in 2024. However, Harris lost at least 4 million votes in solidly blue states like CA, IL, NY, MA, WA, NJ compared to Biden. Likely due to protests against the war in Gaza. however even if those people voted, the election outcome would be the same since those states went blue anyway.
Harris lost 2 million votes in California alone, getting 9 million in 2024 vs 11 million for Biden in 2020. But again, those votes didn’t matter since CA went blue anyway and its EVs went to Harris anyway.
Is there anything that can realistically be done to get the democrats to win an additional 5+ million votes? I’m sure if there was, someone would be doing it.
It feels like in presidential elections, both parties have a basement of 75 million votes. Its just whoever gets enough extra votes to get to 80 million who wins.
I don’t know what can realistically be done. I feel like theres about 90 million non-voters, and maybe 10-20 million swing voters and they determine the outcomes.
Absolutely they can. IMHO, the USA is a nation desperately thirsting for Bernie/AOC/Yang-type economic leftist populism, but is a slightly socially conservative nation.
Unfortunately, the Democrats have actually often given voters the opposite; candidates who are socially liberal but economically conservative (continuing to let health insurance companies like UnitedHealthCare be rapaciously greedy, for instance, letting minimum wage stagnate, and not taxing the rich much.)
The moment the Ds nominate someone who is like Bernie, but holds centrist-conservative social views, they will dominate coast to coast. I’d even describe 80-85 million votes as being too low a floor in that scenario.
Since they already did- and the demographics are moving their way, sure. No problem.
Only in solid blue districts.
The Democrats do nothing of the sort- the Democrats dont pick candidates- the voters do.
The Democratic representatives are constantly getting increases in the Minimum wages - California: $16.90 (+ more in some cases), New York: $17.00, and so forth. In fact quite a few red states have increased the Minimum wage- Florida: $14.00 and increasing to $15.00 soon. The issue is a GOP majority House, the Democrats cant overrule that majority- look at the The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 Introduced by House Democrats- but nixed by the GOP.
As to Taxes- Democratic Senators in 2026 introduced plans to increase the top income tax rates to as much as 49%, and also the
And there have been Wealth tax proposals recently- all nixed by the GOP.
So, yes the Democratic House and Senate want to increase the Minimum wage and increase the top marginal tax rate. But they cant do so, as they are a minority.
I agree with this, partly. I left off the last part because, to me, it’s much less about their politics and more about their personalities - Bernie and AOC specifically. They speak well. They are sincere. They are authentic. They are likeable and relatable. All the things. With that said, maybe those types of politics and those personalities just go hand in hand.
Regardless, I think the margins / outside your base, will be driven by personalities and can get you to 80M +. I’d feel much safer with that than someone less personable who checks some “necessary” political boxes.