Insider poll indicates the Democratic Party has "lost its way"
A liberal pollster reveals that only 10 percent of voters believe the Democrats have an effective strategy for countering the president.
TroibNews 
Voters maintain a negative perception of Democrats six weeks after President Donald Trump and Republicans gained control of all branches of the federal government, as indicated by a new poll.
According to the survey from the liberal firm Blueprint, which was initially shared with PMG, 40 percent of voters believe the Democratic Party lacks any strategy to counter Trump. Additionally, 24 percent think the party has a plan, but it is ineffective. Only 10 percent of respondents view the party as having a solid strategy for dealing with Trump—this feedback comes from a Democratic firm.
The findings from Blueprint, backed by major donor Reid Hoffman, serve as a significant critique of the party’s strategy at the beginning of Trump's second term. This comes at a time when Democrats are feeling disheartened by their poorly received response to Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday, which was widely ridiculed as ineffective and amateurish.
“Voters correctly identified that the Democratic Party has lost its way,” stated Evan Roth Smith, Blueprint's lead pollster. “The Democratic response [Tuesday] night was more or less a continuation of what we've seen from Democrats so far. Which is, there was nothing overtly wrong about it, but it didn't actually do anything to ameliorate this core issue Democrats face, which is voters aren't quite sure what we stand for and would like us to get back to the basic principles of the party.”
In the aftermath of their criticized response to Trump’s speech, top Democrats on Capitol Hill attempted to project confidence. However, the backlash continued as officials and strategists worked to salvage their reputation, an endeavor fraught with blame-shifting and little consensus on how to challenge Trump.
The Democrats' strategy for countering the president's speech revealed ongoing divisions within the party regarding how to effectively oppose Trump's actions in Washington.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged colleagues to take a measured approach to Trump’s address. However, Democrats ended up walking out of the chamber, interrupting the president, and displaying protest signs reading "False" and "This is not normal." Their response failed to reassert themselves as the party representing working-class interests.
Symone Sanders, a former top aide to Vice President Kamala Harris, remarked on X that the protest signs were “not landing.” Some progressives criticized Sen. Elissa Slotkin for her speech, which referenced former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Others within the party felt Slotkin’s address embodied the respectful and relatable outlook that they believe Democrats should adopt. Critics saw the event as a reflection of the party's performative tendencies, often falling into traps set by Republicans, and lacking a clear message focused on economic well-being for Americans.
Sen. John Fetterman, a vocal critic of the party’s approach to Trump, described the spectacle as “sad AF.” Similarly, Sen. Richard Blumenthal acknowledged the underlying “emotion” in such responses but noted they didn’t align with his style.
Democrats are sharply divided on their tactics against Trump. Newcomer Rep. Maxwell Frost defended the rowdy protests, stating, “It is rude. It is disrespectful... That was the whole point of it — to disrespect him.” He argued that adhering to traditional norms of decorum is outdated given Trump’s behavior, referencing Trump's mocking of Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
David Axelrod, a former strategist for President Barack Obama, suggested that Democrats in blue districts are likely under pressure from constituents to confront Trump directly. He likened Rep. Al Green’s disruption of Trump to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s outburst during Biden’s State of the Union address, noting it may elicit approval from party bases but is often rejected by a wider audience. “It’s just not particularly helpful,” he pointed out.
However, some applauded Green's actions within the party. Michael Hardaway, a former aide to Jeffries, championed Green as “an American hero” for his stand against Trump and supported his move to draft articles of impeachment.
In response to the backlash, Green affirmed his stance, declaring, “When you are engaged in peaceful protest, you get in the way... you sometimes create a disturbance.” He expressed willingness to face any consequences for his actions.
On the other hand, some Democrats insisted that there is no discord in their opposition to Trump, despite conflicting signs. Rep. Jahana Hayes claimed that House Democrats are united in opposing Speaker Mike Johnson’s funding extension aimed at stalling Trump and Elon Musk’s alterations to the federal government. “It's actually remarkable when people say Democrats are not unified,” she said.
Roth Smith remarked that the Democrats' messaging was “a little highfalutin,” recommending a need for a “reset.” He emphasized that voters recognize a straightforward path for the party: returning to its foundational principles of defending Social Security and Medicare, advocating for workers' rights, and promoting a healthy economy for all Americans.
Despite the clarity of this message, Democrats have struggled to articulate it effectively thus far.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to the survey from the liberal firm Blueprint, which was initially shared with PMG, 40 percent of voters believe the Democratic Party lacks any strategy to counter Trump. Additionally, 24 percent think the party has a plan, but it is ineffective. Only 10 percent of respondents view the party as having a solid strategy for dealing with Trump—this feedback comes from a Democratic firm.
The findings from Blueprint, backed by major donor Reid Hoffman, serve as a significant critique of the party’s strategy at the beginning of Trump's second term. This comes at a time when Democrats are feeling disheartened by their poorly received response to Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday, which was widely ridiculed as ineffective and amateurish.
“Voters correctly identified that the Democratic Party has lost its way,” stated Evan Roth Smith, Blueprint's lead pollster. “The Democratic response [Tuesday] night was more or less a continuation of what we've seen from Democrats so far. Which is, there was nothing overtly wrong about it, but it didn't actually do anything to ameliorate this core issue Democrats face, which is voters aren't quite sure what we stand for and would like us to get back to the basic principles of the party.”
In the aftermath of their criticized response to Trump’s speech, top Democrats on Capitol Hill attempted to project confidence. However, the backlash continued as officials and strategists worked to salvage their reputation, an endeavor fraught with blame-shifting and little consensus on how to challenge Trump.
The Democrats' strategy for countering the president's speech revealed ongoing divisions within the party regarding how to effectively oppose Trump's actions in Washington.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged colleagues to take a measured approach to Trump’s address. However, Democrats ended up walking out of the chamber, interrupting the president, and displaying protest signs reading "False" and "This is not normal." Their response failed to reassert themselves as the party representing working-class interests.
Symone Sanders, a former top aide to Vice President Kamala Harris, remarked on X that the protest signs were “not landing.” Some progressives criticized Sen. Elissa Slotkin for her speech, which referenced former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Others within the party felt Slotkin’s address embodied the respectful and relatable outlook that they believe Democrats should adopt. Critics saw the event as a reflection of the party's performative tendencies, often falling into traps set by Republicans, and lacking a clear message focused on economic well-being for Americans.
Sen. John Fetterman, a vocal critic of the party’s approach to Trump, described the spectacle as “sad AF.” Similarly, Sen. Richard Blumenthal acknowledged the underlying “emotion” in such responses but noted they didn’t align with his style.
Democrats are sharply divided on their tactics against Trump. Newcomer Rep. Maxwell Frost defended the rowdy protests, stating, “It is rude. It is disrespectful... That was the whole point of it — to disrespect him.” He argued that adhering to traditional norms of decorum is outdated given Trump’s behavior, referencing Trump's mocking of Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
David Axelrod, a former strategist for President Barack Obama, suggested that Democrats in blue districts are likely under pressure from constituents to confront Trump directly. He likened Rep. Al Green’s disruption of Trump to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s outburst during Biden’s State of the Union address, noting it may elicit approval from party bases but is often rejected by a wider audience. “It’s just not particularly helpful,” he pointed out.
However, some applauded Green's actions within the party. Michael Hardaway, a former aide to Jeffries, championed Green as “an American hero” for his stand against Trump and supported his move to draft articles of impeachment.
In response to the backlash, Green affirmed his stance, declaring, “When you are engaged in peaceful protest, you get in the way... you sometimes create a disturbance.” He expressed willingness to face any consequences for his actions.
On the other hand, some Democrats insisted that there is no discord in their opposition to Trump, despite conflicting signs. Rep. Jahana Hayes claimed that House Democrats are united in opposing Speaker Mike Johnson’s funding extension aimed at stalling Trump and Elon Musk’s alterations to the federal government. “It's actually remarkable when people say Democrats are not unified,” she said.
Roth Smith remarked that the Democrats' messaging was “a little highfalutin,” recommending a need for a “reset.” He emphasized that voters recognize a straightforward path for the party: returning to its foundational principles of defending Social Security and Medicare, advocating for workers' rights, and promoting a healthy economy for all Americans.
Despite the clarity of this message, Democrats have struggled to articulate it effectively thus far.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
