When Democrats chase the middle, we lose

Donald Trump’s victory was a wake-up call for Democrats.

Trump didn’t win by playing it safe. He campaigned as a radical populist, promising bold change to a public that feels abandoned and betrayed by the system. People in Pennsylvania, like many across the country, feel left behind and want leaders who will address their anger at an economy rigged for the wealthy few.

Some now suggest Democrats should moderate, adopt “Republican lite” policies, and move to the center to win back Trump voters. That’s the wrong lesson. History shows that when Democrats chase the middle, we lose. We alienate our base, fail to inspire new voters, and ultimately cede ground to Republicans, who will always outflank us on the right.

Instead, we must focus relentlessly on economic inequality and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. These are challenging times, and we need bold, unapologetic, populist solutions. It is the only thing we can do to counter the populism on the right that clearly connects with so many voters.

Trump won because he spoke to people’s frustrations. He railed against trade deals that gutted manufacturing in places like Pennsylvania and promised to take on the elites rigging the system. Of course, his promises were hollow and filled with many coded references designed to stir up grievances. But his rhetoric struck a chord because too many Americans are struggling and looking for someone to blame.

Economic stagnation is real. Wages have been relatively flat for decades while the cost of living — housing, health care, and education — continues to rise. Once-thriving industries have been shipped overseas, gutting local economies. Corporate monopolies dominate every corner of life, from tech to agriculture, crushing small businesses and robbing communities of independence. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations rake in record profits, paying little in taxes, while workers struggle to make ends meet.

Populist rhetoric is vital but useless if it doesn’t reach the public. For too long, the Democratic Party has relied on an elitist, top-down approach to messaging. We focus on carefully crafted sound bites delivered through traditional media outlets like newspapers, cable TV, and opinion pages. We spend most of our campaign dollars on paid television ads on major networks. But this approach isn’t just outdated, it’s out of touch.

To rebuild trust, we must embrace a fundamentally different communication strategy — one that is peer-to-peer, grassroots, and designed for the social media age. Instead of relying on politicians or pundits to convey our message, we need to empower voters themselves to be the messengers. People are far more likely to trust information from someone they know — a friend, a coworker, a neighbor — than from a political ad or TV talking head.

This means investing in local organizing, digital infrastructure, and tools that allow ordinary people to share our vision in their own words and on their own platforms. It also means amplifying the voices of local leaders and working-class voters who can tell real, relatable stories about how Democratic policies will make their lives better.

If Democrats can shift from an elitist, centralized messaging strategy to one that is truly grassroots and participatory, we can not only rebuild trust but inspire a movement. Communication isn’t just about winning elections, it’s about creating a sense of shared purpose and collective action. That’s how we connect with voters in a meaningful way.

As a Pennsylvania Democrat, I’ve seen firsthand how Trump’s rhetoric resonates in towns hollowed out by deindustrialization. But I’ve also seen how people respond when Democrats show up with real solutions — when we stand with workers, fight for health care, and demand accountability from the wealthy and powerful.

We can’t afford to play it safe. This is our moment to be bold, to be populist, and to meet voters on their terms. Let’s not waste it.

Ben Waxman represents Center City and South Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. benwaxman@gmail.com