By January 2029, Donald Trump will be capping off a nearly 14-year stretch at the helm of American politics. While he will no longer serve as president of the United States, his shadow over the future of American politics will continue to loom large across both sides of the aisle. Following Trump’s popular-vote victory in the 2024 election, the Democratic party has been forced to wrestle with what went wrong and how they can regain the support of an American majority to win back the White House. To win back Americans’ trust, Democrats have to prioritize affordability, broaden their cultural appeal, and reconnect with disaffected voters beyond their base.

Trump’s political success has long been defined by his willingness to take on elite institutions and buck convention, putting distance between himself and weaknesses in the Republican brand while simultaneously undermining advantages in the Democratic brand. He’s ignored the wrath of editorial boards and economists while offering policy ideas and messaging that speaks to what voters think.

In 2028, Democrats should prioritize what voters – all of them – say they want over what’s pleasing to leftwing media, interest groups, donors and elites. Not only would this allow the Democratic party to put forward a policy agenda well-positioned to gain popular support – it would simultaneously help solve brand weaknesses, including criticisms that the party’s leaders lack strength, are too quick to dismiss voters’ concerns, or prioritize telling voters how to feel instead of listening to........

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