Ron Brownstein on How Democrats Can Counter Trump in 2026 and Beyond
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from August 13, 2025 | Life During Wartime: Politics in an Age of Convulsion. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, CNN senior political analyst and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Ron Brownstein examined the state of the Democratic Party as it confronts Donald Trump’s second term. A two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and longtime observer of U.S. politics, Brownstein joined moderator Larry Mantle to explore how Democrats should navigate the 2026 midterm elections and prepare for the 2028 presidential race. His analysis highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities for a party still struggling to define its identity in the Trump era.
The Democratic Image Problem
Brownstein began by noting that Democrats’ national image is at its weakest point since the late Reagan years. But he cautioned against overestimating the impact of branding in the midterms. Citing historical precedents from 2010 and 2014, Brownstein explained that midterm outcomes are overwhelmingly tied to the incumbent president’s approval rating, not the opposition party’s favorability.
“In 2010, Democrats had a stronger image than Republicans and still lost more than 60 House seats,” Brownstein said. “Midterms are fundamentally a referendum on the president in power.”
For 2026, that means Trump’s approval rating—already slipping below 50 percent—will likely be the single most important number to watch.
Competing Democratic Strategies
The conversation then turned to how Democrats should frame their message. Party leaders such as Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries prefer to focus on economic issues—what Brownstein called “the price of eggs” approach. They argue that Trump promised to lower the cost of living but has instead worsened it with tariffs, tax cuts for the wealthy, and cuts to Medicaid.
By contrast, governors like Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker emphasize Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, warning that federalizing the National Guard and eroding democratic safeguards pose existential risks.
“This isn’t a unique Democratic dilemma,” Brownstein explained. “Around the world, opposition parties facing authoritarian leaders struggle with the same question: Do you run against the strongman’s abuses of power, or do you run on kitchen-table issues? Most often, they run on the price of eggs.”
Redistricting and the Census Battle
Another major challenge ahead is redistricting. Brownstein pointed out that Trump has been pressuring Republican-led states like Texas to gerrymander aggressively, while Democrats may attempt counter-moves in California, Illinois, and New Jersey. But overall, Republicans have more opportunities to carve out new seats.
Even more concerning, Brownstein noted, is talk of redoing the 2020 census or excluding undocumented residents from the population count used for apportionment. Such a shift would reduce the representation of urban and diverse states like California and New York, while boosting rural and Republican-leaning states. “That’s something we could see in court battles well before 2028,” he warned.
Reaching Low-Information Voters
One of the thorniest questions for Democrats is how to reconnect with voters who don’t closely follow politics. Brownstein argued that this group has reemerged as a decisive bloc in the Trump era, thanks to record-high turnout.
“The last 15 million voters are not deeply partisan,” he said. “They’re judging based on how things are going in their own lives.”
For Democrats, that means governing effectively—delivering on economic stability and quality of life—matters more than fine-tuned messaging. Brownstein suggested that Democrats may need to downplay polarizing cultural debates and instead show they are prioritizing everyday concerns.
Looking Toward 2026 and 2028
The immediate tests will come in the 2026 gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, which Brownstein described as potential bellwethers. Longer term, Democrats will need a presidential candidate in 2028 capable of redefining the party, much as Bill Clinton did in 1992.
For now, Brownstein concluded, Democrats face a dual challenge: keeping the focus on Trump’s failure to ease economic burdens while also defending democratic norms. “It’s a mistake to call authoritarian overreach a distraction,” he said. “But to win, Democrats will need to speak both to the cost of living and to the health of democracy itself.”
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.