Democratic politicians follow the money, when they should be focused on reconnecting with their base
By SAGE KAMOCSAY— skamocsay@ucdavis.edu
The approval rating of the Democratic Party has been plummeting for some time. Party approval ratings are at 34.7%, with disapproval at 59.0%, according to an analysis by RealClear Polling of several polls taken over the past few months. To offer a more specific critique, 64% of respondents described the Democrats as “weak,” while only 26% answered that they were “effective,” according to a poll by CBS News.
As these polls continue to show declines in the party’s favorability, we are also seeing increasingly center-right tendencies within their tactics; a prime example being Kamala Harris’ promise to finish the wall along the United States-Mexico border during her 2024 presidential campaign. The stark contrast between this policy and former-President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) act prominently displays how democratic philosophy has shifted: We’ve fallen from grace.
But why is this the case? Why has the Democratic Party seen such a drastic change in their policy? To put it simply, it’s profitable. Left-wing organizations, like Indivisible, tend to be grass-roots — they simply don’t have the funding to facilitate lobbying and large campaign donations. Moderate and conservative organizations, on the other hand, have more institutional and monetary power. Political Action Committees (PACs), for example, have historically been a major method for candidates to receive funding — but there are almost none on the Left. As such, Democrats who lean center have more access to fiscal support for campaigns and bill propositions.
Lobbying, therefore, has a significant impact on the positions taken by prominent Democrats — and even decides who gets a seat in the government in the first place. A fantastic example of this power is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). AIPAC funded campaigns for over 80% of the 469 seats in Congress up for election in 2024, according to an analysis done by The Intercept. Even more chillingly, they found that only four of the AIPAC-backed candidates lost.
In short, it’s easy for Democrats to lay on their backs and resign themselves to allow corporate meddling in elections. It’s the logical choice for most candidates — why would you run against these lobbies that are so incredibly successful? It significantly narrows the playing field for who can participate in lawmaking — only the most moderate survive.
As America continues to descend into the throes of fascism, however, this party strategy becomes increasingly concerning. Fringe Grand Old Party (GOP) policies from less than 10 years ago are now being paraded by the Democrats as “the reasonable alternatives” to current GOP agendas.
Take Harris’ campaign promise to finish building the wall, for example: It’s an echo of President Donald Trump’s alt-right 2016 campaign, and a fast-track to the fascist America we are rapidly approaching. The policies being pushed by mainstream politicians continue to approach the depths of the alt-right, and, for voters, there are three options: surrender to the extreme, vote for the “lesser of two evils” or step out of politics entirely.
What’s not offered is left-populist policy. While voters tend to discount or even fear ideas labeled as “left-wing,” it’s been shown that the public prefers policies much further to the left than current mainstream Democratic policy when that label is omitted. For example, the average support across party lines for ending cash bail, creating more generic options for pharmaceuticals, establishing job guarantees and funding a public internet option was up, according to a 2018 poll by Data for Progress. Among 2016 Clinton voters, these numbers were even higher, almost double the increase. Even among non-voters, support for these policies was also significant.
More recently, polls have shown significant support for left-wing politicians, Zohran Mamdani’s win over Andrew Cuomo in the recent New York mayoral race being one example. Additionally, a 43% positive popularity rating among voters for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and 48% for Senator Bernie Sanders were found in a 2025 YouGov poll. In the same poll, their establishment peers like House Minority Leader Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer demonstrated positive ratings of 28% and 20%, respectively.
Even though they may shy away from calling it what it is, the average voter wants to see more liberal policy change in America: These polls prove it. However, most Democrats aren’t giving it to them — they would rather bulk up their paychecks than protect the interests of their constituents.
To recapture their base of support and delay — or even prevent — America’s fascist demise, Democrat politicians need to turn left; they need to realize that the people are more important than the money. To achieve this goal, however, the Democratic base needs to show their representatives what they want.
So, when you see a local candidate working to truly do right by their constituents, consider voting for them. If you can, contribute in more ways than just voting: volunteer, go to demonstrations, maybe even donate. Call your representatives — make sure they know your vote depends on their policies. Ultimately, the most important thing is to protect what’s right, not just what’s safe.
Written by: Sage Kamocsay— skamocsay@ucdavis.edu
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.
