Democrats keep misreading the room by moving left. Big mistake. | Opinion

More than a year has passed since President Donald Trump began his second term. As the Democratic Party’s chief political rival, his return to office might have been expected to energize Democrats and create momentum.

Instead, the party has veered leftward and struggled to unite its base, while many voters are dissatisfied with its direction.

Even though a few Democratic candidates have nabbed wins in recent special elections, new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Democrats are still down on their own party. About 7 in 10 Democrats have a positive view of the Democratic Party, and they’re much less positive than they’ve been in previous years.

I think I know why. The answer will continue to wreak havoc on the Democratic Party and could be a boon for Republicans if they can get out of their own way and better capitalize on their wins.

Democrats have veered too far to the left

CNN's data analyst Harry Enten presented data recently that show a whopping 58% of voters say the Democratic Party is too liberal.

"The Democrats are moving to the left, the far left is gaining power, and there could be some electoral repercussions because what we see right now is voters, the clear majority, say that they are too liberal," Enten said.

At the same time, Enten said, "42% of Democrats think of themselves as democratic socialists under the age of 35, just like Zohran Mamdani," the new mayor of New York City.

Enten said New York's choice to elect democratic socialist Mamdani "is not some aberration" but "something that we are seeing grow within the Democratic Party." One third of all Democrats identify as democratic socialists.

As Enten added, "My goodness gracious." Indeed.

Democrats should already see why this is a problem

It's a problem for Democrats that a majority of the general electorate views the party as ideologically too far to the left. The implication for the midterm elections could be huge. If this perception persists, Democrats may still struggle in 2026 and 2028 in suburban swing districts, Rust Belt states and moderate-leaning battleground states that Trump swept in 2024.

The fact that the Democratic Party has swung more progressive, rather than moderate, perhaps in response to Trump, is troubling. The election of Mamdani showcased this phenomenon as Exhibit A. Mamdani's leadership has already been disappointing, as I predicted it would be.

After campaigning on affordability, Mamdani just proposed a 9.5% property tax increase on all residents unless Gov. Kathy Hochul lets him just tax the wealthiest New Yorkers. His preliminary 2027 budget also has proposed a $22 million decrease in the New York Police Department's $6.4 billion budget.

So much for the "warmth of collectivism," eh?

What does this mean for Democrats?

The Democratic Party's base wants bold progressive policy, but the general electorate seems more moderate. This dichotomy provides an opportunity for both parties. Democrats should read the room, tame their progressive proclivities and swing back to the land of moderation. Think more former President Bill Clinton, less Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

Yet even in Texas, Democrats continue to test this.

Though nowhere near a socialist, Rep. Jasmine Crockett is progressive, combative and controversial. She has quickly become recognized as one of the party's leaders. She's leading in polls for her primary bid for the U.S. Senate, although the race is tightening between her and state Rep. James Talarico, a moderate.

Talarico gained a boost from his appearance with late-night host Stephen Colbert that sparked Federal Communications Commission controversy.

While Crockett might be ahead now, she might not fare well against a Republican challenger. Typically, in Texas, more progressive Democrats fail when pitted against Republicans.

If Republicans are smart, they will continue to weaponize Democrats' increasing progressiveness as a weakness and counter this with better messaging. Trump's economy is doing well, but that message isn't always coming across clearly. Presenting this more effectively could show Americans that Republicans oppose the most extreme positions of Democrats, focusing instead on practical issues that impact everyday citizens rather than on ideological stances that many Americans may find unappealing.

Republicans, too, should tweak their focus away from far-right extremes and focus on reasonable conservatives.

In fact, it seems like Democrats still hate Trump so much that they don't even like themselves or who they have become. If they don't turn around soon, by November midterm elections or 2028, they only have themselves to blame if American voters reject their progressive ideas.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.