A growing rift is emerging within the Democratic Party as some prominent strategists express strong disapproval of current efforts to re-engage men who voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election. The criticism comes on the heels of reports detailing a new $20 million initiative, “Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan” (SAM), aimed at understanding and recapturing young male voters who supported Donald Trump.
The Hill reported Thursday that several Democrats believe the party is failing to genuinely reconnect with male voters, with some dismissing the SAM initiative as out of touch. Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist, emphasized the need for the party to return to its roots as the “party of the working class and working families.”
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“When you’re not talking about the working family, you’re never going to get these men back,” Rocha told The Hill, adding, “I see a lot of people flailing about, spending money on focus groups and polling, which is not going to fix the problem.”
SAM, co-founded by a prominent feminist, has been widely panned since The New York Times first reported on the effort. Initial research from SAM, first reported by Politico on Wednesday, revealed a significant perception gap: many young men view Democrats as “weak” while Republicans are seen as “strong.”
An anonymous top Democratic strategist lamented the party’s inability to compete with Republicans in attracting male voters during the last election cycle. “They kicked our asses all over the place with these guys,” the strategist told The Hill. “They met male voters exactly where they were and we, on the other hand, had nothing comparable.”
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The internal party debate unfolds amidst a backdrop of dismal approval ratings for Democrats in recent surveys. A Yale Youth Poll released in April indicated a surprising shift, with many college-aged Americans now favoring the Republican Party.
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, Democratic strategist Eddie Vale criticized what he sees as the party’s academic approach to understanding blue-collar voters. “If you want blue-collar men — and women — to support you, go hang out with them and their unions,” Vale told The Hill. “The answer is so obvious that it could only be missed by a convening of Ph.D. political scientists and billionaires trying to study them like they’re some exotic species.”
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Similarly, Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau stressed the importance of “authenticity” in rebuilding trust with young male voters. “We need authenticity and you can’t manufacture it in a lab, a war room or a donor meeting,” Mollineau told The Hill. “We can’t figure this out in a week or two. It has to be part of an ongoing conversation, and we’re just not there yet.”
The growing discontent among Democratic strategists highlights a significant challenge for the party as it seeks to broaden its appeal and regain ground lost among crucial demographics. The coming months will likely reveal whether the party chooses to pivot its strategy in response to these internal criticisms or continues with its current approaches.
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