Rethinking the Message: David Axelrod on the Democratic Party’s Disconnect
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from May 21, 2025 | Can Our American Democracy Survive Today’s Challenges? The Observations of a Keen Observer. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, veteran political strategist and commentator David Axelrod offered a candid and sobering assessment of the Democratic Party’s current challenges. As a former senior advisor to President Obama and one of the most influential political minds in recent decades, Axelrod’s analysis carries weight—especially when diagnosing what went wrong in the 2024 election and what the party must do to recover. From disillusioned voters to internal strategic missteps, Axelrod calls for a fundamental rethinking of how Democrats connect with the very people they claim to serve.
The Missed Opportunity in 2024
Axelrod did not shy away from revisiting his early 2022 public concerns about President Joe Biden seeking re-election. These concerns, he clarified, were not political but actuarial. His fear was that Biden’s delayed exit would leave the Democratic Party without time for a robust primary process—an essential testing ground for any candidate. As it turned out, Vice President Kamala Harris did become the nominee, but without the benefit of that testing. Though she campaigned effectively for a time, the absence of early groundwork proved difficult to overcome. In Axelrod’s view, this wasn’t just a tactical error—it was a systemic failure of party leadership to plan ahead.
How the Party Lost Working People
Perhaps Axelrod’s most pointed criticism was reserved for how Democrats have come to be perceived by the very voters they once championed: working-class Americans. He described the party’s transformation into a college-educated, urban-suburban institution that often approaches working-class communities “like missionaries and anthropologists.” The result, he argued, is a fundamental lack of respect—an attitudinal failing that has been weaponized by right-wing populists like Donald Trump.
This disconnect is about more than messaging. It reflects a growing alienation among voters who feel left behind by economic and political systems that benefit elites while ordinary people struggle. Axelrod noted that many Americans have been “treading water for decades,” and while the country has seen overall growth, that prosperity hasn’t reached those in the middle or at the margins.
Bernie Sanders Was Right—Mostly
While not without criticism, Axelrod gave credit to Senator Bernie Sanders for consistently speaking to the economic frustrations felt by millions. Sanders’ warnings about the effects of globalization, the financial crisis, and growing inequality resonated for a reason: they were grounded in reality. But, Axelrod cautioned, Sanders’ “wild-haired socialist” image likely limited his mainstream appeal. The message was potent, but the messenger, to many voters, was polarizing.
Still, Axelrod emphasized the value of Sanders’ focus on economics—an approach he believes Democrats must reclaim if they want to win back skeptical working-class voters
Reintroducing the Democratic Party
One of Axelrod’s central themes was the need for Democrats to “reintroduce themselves” to large swaths of the country—particularly small towns, rural communities, and non-college-educated voters. Winning elections by eking out narrow victories in a handful of counties is not sustainable. To remain viable and relevant, the party must build durable coalitions grounded in empathy, economic clarity, and authenticity.
Message Discipline and Moving Forward
Axelrod concluded with a challenge to Democrats: sharpen the message. Resist the distractions Trump creates and instead speak to the issues that most affect people’s lives—jobs, wages, health care, education. Voters don’t want lectures; they want results and leaders who understand their struggles.
If the Democratic Party wants to be the party of the people again, Axelrod argues, it needs to act like it—not from a place of condescension, but from a place of solidarity. That starts not with better slogans, but with a better sense of who the party is—and who it’s truly fighting for.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.