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THE Democratic Party must have a come to Jesus moment on immigration and accept a series of home truths if they are to emerge from the political wilderness, experts have warned.
A vacuum has emerged within the Democratic establishment since Kamala Harris’s defeat to Donald Trump and there is no consensus on how to take on the GOP.
The lack of leadership has seen the likes of firebrand congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez whipping left-wing fanatics up into a frenzy, rallying alongside veteran socialist Bernie Sanders.
Cory Booker, a senior New Jersey senator, has also emerged as a potential contender after making history by speaking for over 24 hours on Senate floor against Trump’s platform.
And, Gavin Newsom has been making waves, having hosted conservative commentators on his podcast titled This is Gavin Newsom.
David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, claimed the Democrats have “disintegrated” following November’s loss.
The 2028 field is set to be congested, but commentators have warned the Democrats must have a vision going forward.
And that cannot just be opposing Trump.
“Of course, they’re going to be anti-Trump,” Richards said.
“But that’s beginning to sort of wear thin. That was part of the problem they had with the presidential election.
“All they could present was ‘Hey we’re not Trump, that’s great, but in the absence of an actual plan, people are going to be a little suspect.”
Richards warned the Democrats may have to water down its progressive stance when it comes to immigration given the national split toward diversity initiatives in the workplace.
“A lot of the Democrats base is that they want to be progressive, but with general opinion swinging the other way, it’s going to be hard for them to maintain that base and not alienate folks,” he added.
“When it comes to immigration, I think the Democrats are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment and say, ‘Look, immigration is obviously a concern for many Americans.
‘How do we make it so it’s not something that people are afraid of or that people feel is harming the United States?’
“That might be hard for Democrats to sort of stomach and do that.”
Richards warned that the Democrats could encounter difficulties if culture war issues or immigration are the primary issues at the ballot box come the midterms in November 2026.
Trump polls well among voters on immigration, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.
Overall, 46% of those surveyed back his immigration policy.
The survey has him polling better on immigration, than on the economy and trade.
Less than four in 10 people support Trump’s approach toward the economy and trade talks with other nations.
FERTILE GROUND
Richards explained that the economy may be easier ground for the Democrats if voters do not believe they are better off financially.
Election exit polls revealed the economy was among the top five issues voters considered in polling booths.
More than 60% of voters surveyed said they were feeling either dissatisfied or angry about the way the US was heading, as per NBC.
Almost half of voters claimed they were financially worse off in November 2024 compared to four years previously.
Meanwhile, Lindy Li, a former Democratic fundraiser who now campaigns for the Republicans, warned the Democrats could be in the political wilderness for a decade.
In a blistering attack, she said the party had lost the argument on a whole range of issues – from migration to gender policies.
She claimed she was ex-communicated from the party after voicing concerns about Joe Biden’s fitness for office.
“The Democratic Party is shrinking their tent, they’re not expanding it,” Li added.
That might be hard for Democrats to sort of stomach and do that
David Richards
“I didn’t want to leave the party. I just wanted to be the conservative voice in the party, but there’s no room for conservative voices.”
Li believes the Republicans could enjoy more than a decade in power in a similar fashion to Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister between 1979 and 1990.
And, she thinks the GOP can seize on the Democrats’ lack of leadership.
“There’s nobody in charge. It’s hilarious and amazing how incompetent they are.”
Li struggled to name a Democratic candidate that could take on the Republicans.
Everything Trump has said about a third term
Is Donald Trump serious about running for office again in 2028?
Rumours about a third term were first sparked in January 2025 when Trump told supporters it would be “the greatest honour of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times or four times.”
But he later said it was a joke to provoke the “fake news media.”
However, in March, Trump then said he was “not joking” about running for a third or even a fourth term.
But in doing so he would break a long-standing constitutional barrier from 1951 that states “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
He said that there are “methods which you could do it.”
One of the methods posed to him to become President again and bypass the 22nd Amendment is for JD Vance to be elected who would then “pass on the baton” to Trump who admitted “that’s one” option.
The 45th and 47th President also claimed that “a lot of people want me to do it” but that “it is far too early to think about it.”
In April, he appeared to double down, saying that the 2028 bid would be “a big shattering” after his real estate company, the Trump Organization, dropped a new version of Trump’s classic “Make America Great Again” hat reading “Trump 2028”.
However, in the same interview, he then admitted: “It’s not something that I’m looking to do. And I think it would be a very hard thing to do.”
Trump will be 82 at the end of his current term.
COULD HARRIS MAKE A COMEBACK?
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, has been embroiled in controversy after it emerged he falsely claimed he received a Bronze Star on a White House application form.
Moore has tried to dampen speculation about a 2028 run by revealing he would seek re-election in Maryland.
Li said the Republicans would find it easy to attack Moore politically in light of the controversy.
But, she was more scathing about Kamala Harris.
She claimed there is “no chance” Harris would win the presidency.
“It’s a disaster for Democrats but a blessing for Republicans,” she added.
“If I were a Democrat, I would be p***ed.
“I think I would I have a better chance [of winning the presidency] and I’m not even constitutionally eligible.
“This woman is nothing without a script.”
The vice president was often criticized during the 2024 campaign for her garbled word salads and repetitive addresses.
Her speeches were often criticized and used by Republicans in their campaign ads.
And, Li previously described Harris’ ill-fated 2024 campaign as a “$1 billion disaster.”
Days after Harris conceded, Li told Fox & Friends Weekend: “The truth is that is just an end epic disaster.”
RUNNERS AND RIDERS
Harris has been tight-lipped on her aspirations as she could run for the Democratic Party’s nominee to be the Governor of California, or in 2028.
But, Richards believes other candidates may not be deterred even if Harris announced a 2028 run.
“Democrats tend to sort of throw people overboard once they have run and lost,” he said.
“They’re unforgiving about reintroducing people who have failed previously.
“If Harris was going to announce a 2028 run, I think a lot of people would say ‘Ok, great, but we’re still going to look at other people.”
Newsom is believed to be a potential contender, and the scholar explained potential advantages.
“He’s positioning himself as somebody outside of the party leadership, who is willing to change norms,” said Richards.
Newsom has put himself at odds with the progressive flank of the Democratic establishment, when it comes to transgender women competing in female sports.
But, his candidacy would not come without risks.
“I’m not sure if he’s going to be distinctive,” Richards said.
“He may end up fumbling the ball by not being able to get the Democrats behind him.
“But that’s the kind of person the Democrats need to rally behind.”
How Trump changed the world in first 100 days
Donald Trump has signed over 140 executive orders in his first 100 days back in office. After making a slew of promises before re-entering the White House, what has he achieved so far?
Education:
Trump signed an executive order to cut federal money to schools that support or are seen to “push critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content” onto children.
He has also signed an order to cut funding to schools that have a mandate about vaccines and masks.
The President is also working on closing the federal Education Department and pulling back on DEI policies and programs, directing the federal government to end its diversity and equity programs.
Classified Records:
In March 2025, the White House released the classified documents on the assassination of JFK, something Trump vowed to do in October 2024 “immediately” after re-entering office.
Energy:
In September 2024, Trump vowed to declare a national energy emergency to push for more drilling and boosting “domestic energy supply” which he did when he signed an executive order upon entering the White House.
Another promise he has kept was signing an executive order to remove the US from the Paris Agreement.
Two other orders Trump has signed are working to keep his promises to end state emissions waivers that limit sales of gas-powered cars and to bring an end to the “electric vehicle mandate.”
Foreign Affairs:
The President vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war soon after entering office and has become a key negotiator between the warring nations.
Though he has so far failed to end the bloodshed, his action has moved talks on to finding a ceasefire agreement.
He also criticised the amount of US funding going to Ukraine, quickly ramping up pressure on European allies to take on more of the burden.
As part of his diplomacy and foreign strategy, Trump has already hosted at least 11 world leaders in his first 100 days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being the first leader welcomed to the White House on February 4.
Government:
Trump said he would fire government employees who he says are “corrupt bureaucrats” which is something he has addressed via another executive order.
He also established DOGE to root out blockers to efficiency with Elon Musk brandishing the “chainsaw for bureaucracy.”
DOGE cuts have seen major reductions in the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and attempts to make cuts in the Department of Education.
Cuts of $47.4 billion have been made to the Department of Health and Human Services while over $45 billion has been taken from the Agency for International Development, and $2.6 billion has been cut from the Department of State, according to DOGE.
Immigration:
The President has long been waging a war on immigration and has signed numerous executive orders in a bid to fulfil his plans.
These include carrying out the biggest deportation in US history to “end the migrant invasion,” ending the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, banning refugees from Gaza and removing the student visas of those deemed to be pro-Hamas protesters, “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners.”
He also signed an order to start “ideological screening” for all immigrants and axed the CBP One app used by migrants to schedule appointments US border patrol agents.
Illegal border crossings from Mexico are now the lowest they have been for over four years but there are fears that some of those being deported under Trump’s action against “killers and thugs” are innocent and are not being given due process.
Pardons:
Trump has pardoned over 1,500 people including the majority of those convicted or charged in the Capitol Hill riots on January 6, 2021.
He has also pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of a dark web marketplace known as Silk Road and Charles Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law who was in prison for tax evasion, witness tampering, and campaign finance offences.
Tariffs:
In November, Trump said he would “tariff the hell out of countries that have been taking advantage” of the US, something he is continuing to work on after his “Liberation Day” announcement of a “reciprocal tariff” strategy with tariffs up to 145%, most harshly impacting China.
Taxes:
Through congressional action, the President has started cutting corporate tax rates to 15%, make tax cuts permanent, have no tax on tips, scrap taxes on Social Security and overtime pay, and making interest on car loans entirely tax deductible.
