The New York Times’ editorial board is warning Democrats that their losses in the Nov. 2 elections should prompt a “conversation” about a “return” to more moderate policies.
In an op-ed published on Thursday, the editorial board wrote, “Tuesday’s election result trend lines were a political nightmare for the Democratic Party, and no Democrat who cares about winning elections in 2022 and the presidential race in 2024 should see them as anything less.”
“Familiar takeaways like ‘wake-up call’ and ‘warning shot’ don’t do justice here because the danger of ignoring those trends is too great. What would do justice, and what is badly needed, is an honest conversation in the Democratic Party about how to return to the moderate policies and values that fueled the blue-wave victories in 2018 and won Joe Biden the presidency in 2020,” it continued.
Additionally, the op-ed said, “Americans badly need a rolling conversation today and in the coming weeks and months about how moderate voters of all affiliations can coalesce behind and guide the only party right now that shows an interest in governing and preserving democratic norms.”
The editorial board went on to note that Republican candidates in Virginia won the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general races, which “they have not won in 12 years” in the state.
It argued that Democrats lost voters in suburbs because Democrats have “become distracted from crucial issues like the economy, inflation, ending the coronavirus pandemic and restoring normalcy in schools and isn’t offering moderate, unifying solutions to them.”
“Republicans now have a playbook for future elections, based on ways their nominee for governor, Glenn Youngkin, overperformed with independents and cut into Democrats’ support in the suburbs and among women,” it added.
The op-ed continued:
Bill Clinton’s mantra from 1992 of ‘it’s the economy, stupid’ is rarely out of vogue, and it certainly isn’t now. But Democrats, looking left on so many priorities and so much messaging, have lost sight of what can unite the largest number of Americans. A national Democratic Party that talks up progressive policies at the expense of bipartisan ideas, and that dwells on Donald Trump at the expense of forward-looking ideas, is at risk of becoming a marginal Democratic Party appealing only to the left.”
The board acknowledged that Congressional Democrats are pushing to pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package and a $1.75 trillion spending bill but said, “Tuesday’s results are a sign that significant parts of the electorate are feeling leery of a sharp leftward push in the party, including on priorities like Build Back Better.”
Additionally, it noted that progressives “notched some notable wins,” but “progressive wins in deep-blue cities aren’t evidence of broad, national support.”
The op-ed noted that voters have concerns about crime, inflation, and border security and argues that they did not support Biden because they wanted a “progressive revolution.”
Instead, it argued, “He captured the nomination — and the presidency — because he promised an exhausted nation a return to sanity, decency and competence.”
Finally, the board said, “Democrats should work to implement policies to help the American people. Congress should focus on what is possible, not what would be possible if Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema and — frankly — a host of lesser-known Democratic moderates who haven’t had to vote on policies they might oppose were not in office.”
“Democrats agree about far more than they disagree about. But it doesn’t look that way to voters after months and months of intraparty squabbling. Time to focus on — and pass — policies with broad support. Or risk getting run out of office,” it added.
