# Will the Democrats ever find out why they lost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417 "2016-11-10T22:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/1 "2016-11-10T22:47:49Z")
The sister to [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=676834) thread. Democrats didn’t just lose the presidential election; they lost the Senate when they were expected to win it, they remain a minority in the house and they got crushed in governorships. Based on the topics here, I’m going to say no. Trump not only expanded the map into blue states, but he was able to attract a decent amount of minorities. Screaming racism, sexism or whatever else isn’t going to result in a 2024 Democratic victory. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/2 "2016-11-11T01:26:15Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Screaming racism, sexism or whatever else isn’t going to result in a 2024 Democratic victory. Let me correct your premise. I’m sure you meant 2020, not 2024. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/3 "2016-11-11T01:32:59Z")
sadly, given that Bernie Sanders is suggesting Keith Ellison for DNC chair, and that a 75 year old is the new “leader,” of the Democratic Party, doubtful. Yes, in a time where people are scared of Islamic terrorism, putting a Muslim as the face of a party is a fucking dumb idea. And if I have to explain why, I might as well be talking to a brick wall. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/4 "2016-11-11T01:35:58Z")
What is your view OP? You have to understand with a name like yours, if your answer is ‘act more like republicans’ that isn’t going to be very persuasive. That is like if someone with a name ProudLiberal said the reason the GOP lost in 2008 is because they weren’t liberal enough and needed to become democrat lite. The dems did do worse with minorities than they hoped, I agree. But I think it was high school educated whites who put Trump in power. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/5 "2016-11-11T05:58:39Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > sadly, given that Bernie Sanders is suggesting Keith Ellison for DNC chair, and that a 75 year old is the new “leader,” of the Democratic Party, doubtful. Yes, in a time where people are scared of Islamic terrorism, putting a Muslim as the face of a party is a fucking dumb idea. And if I have to explain why, I might as well be talking to a brick wall. I still don’t believe you were ever an actual Democrat. Unless you mean before 1964. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/6 "2016-11-11T07:17:29Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I still don’t believe you were ever an actual Democrat. Unless you mean before 1964. Throw insults if you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that there have been, and still might be conservative and other non-progressive Democrats. They existed as recently as 2008; Hillary was one back then. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/7 "2016-11-11T07:28:34Z")
The proximate reason Democrats lost was poor candidate selection. That’s not just the elites’ problem, it’s also the base, which has been trained to go for the snazziest candidate rather than the most well balanced. The other reason is failing to appeal to white voters. Relying on a base that are not reliable voters is also not a great idea, changing demographics or not. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-ever-find-out-why-they-lost/771417/8 "2016-11-11T07:30:57Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Throw insults if you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that there have been, and still might be conservative and other non-progressive Democrats. They existed as recently as 2008; Hillary was one back then. Bloody good thing we didn’t nominate her then.