NY Times Criticizes Democrats for “Denial” After Major 2024 Election Losses
The New York Times Editorial Board is calling out the Democratic Party in the wake of its major losses in the 2024 election.
In a sharply worded editorial, the traditionally liberal publication argued that Democrats are refusing to face the real reasons behind their loss of control over the presidency, House, and Senate. According to Fox News, the board warned that the party’s current path forward is not only misguided, but “outright delusional.”
“As comforting as these explanations may feel to Democrats, they are a form of denial that will make it harder for the Democratic Party to win future elections,” the Saturday editorial stated. Its headline made the message crystal clear: “The Democrats Are in Denial About 2024.”
This public critique arrives as Democrats face historically poor approval ratings. Recent polls by CNN and NBC News show favorability for the party at just 29% and 27%, respectively — their lowest scores recorded by either network since the early 1990s.
The Times took aim at “many party leaders” who have chosen to ignore the scale of their “comprehensive defeat” and instead believe they don’t need to overhaul their message or policy platform.
Rather than acknowledging deeper flaws, Democrats have embraced what the Times called a “convenient explanation for their plight.” They’ve blamed “postpandemic inflation” and a supposed failure in messaging — not policy — as the reasons behind their downfall. “If Democrats could only communicate better, particularly on social media and podcasts, the party would be fine,” the editorial said, summarizing what it sees as misplaced optimism.
The piece also referenced comments from newly appointed DNC Chair Ken Martin, who insists the party has the “right message” and simply needs better ways to “connect it back with the voters.” Similarly, Minnesota Governor and former VP nominee Tim Walz recently emphasized that “90 million” Americans didn’t vote, suggesting Democrats should focus on mobilizing those nonvoters.
However, the board criticized Walz’s broader message — especially his implication that Democrats shouldn’t bother trying to reach Trump voters — as emblematic of the party’s unwillingness to broaden its appeal.
Such thinking, the editorial warned, is not just troubling for Democrats. The board argued that the consequences of this mindset “should concern conservatives and the country at large.”
Still, in a shift of tone, the Times reverted to its familiar rhetoric on Donald Trump, describing him as a serious danger to the nation. “The country needs two healthy political parties. It especially needs a healthy Democratic Party, given Mr. Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party and his draconian behavior. Restraining him — and any successors who continue his policies — depends on Democrats taking an honest look at their problems.”
The editorial acknowledged that inflation has harmed ruling parties worldwide, not just in the U.S. “Whether on the political right or left, ruling parties lost power in the United States, Brazil, Britain, Germany and Italy,” it explained.
However, the board also noted that several incumbent parties held power in places like Denmark, France, India, Japan, Mexico, and Spain — suggesting that a stronger Democratic Party “could have joined them last year.”
The editorial emphasized that inflation wasn’t the only issue. Voters also favored Republicans over Democrats on several key topics, including immigration, crime, spending, global trade, and foreign affairs.
As for Walz’s claim about nonvoters, the editors pushed back, saying, “Nonvoters appear to have favored Mr. Trump by an even wider margin than voters.”
After delivering its critique, the board laid out a path for Democrats to rebuild. First, they urged the party to engage in “more rigorous and less wishful reflection.” That includes acknowledging failures such as how they “mishandled Mr. Biden’s age.”
Next, the editorial stated that “Democrats should recognize that the party moved too far left on social issues after Barack Obama left office in 2017.” Lastly, they insisted that “the party has to offer new ideas” if it hopes to win back the trust of the electorate.