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Democrats are frustrated.
The party’s donation class openly questioned whether the leadership even had a pulse. After losing the White House and Senate and failing to win the House, they say the party lacks both direction and a message. One donor spoke out to the hills, saying, “We still can’t find our feet, no one is excited about anything. But I think a lot of people realize that if we do nothing, we put control down to Trump, enough.”
This is what thesis Democrats can’t ignore: Love for the party is not about keeping the light, but about Donald Trump, who is now in his second term.
This fear is tangible. Donors point out that the “escalating threat of freedom of speech” is why they started writing checks again. For some, it was after his comments on the Charlie Kirk assassination, and decided to take Jimmy Kimmel off. For others, it was Trump’s immigration crackdown, and even his weird statement linking Tylenol to autism. As one donor said, “It gets worse every day.”
But don’t mistake fear for loyalty. Another California donor didn’t have any sarcasm, calling the Democrats “incompetent, arrogant, isolated and deaf.”
The numbers recovered from fatigue. The Republican National Committee price is $84 million. Democrats? Only $15 million. While some people like John Morgan, a well-known injured attorney, told Hill that they are still cutting checks, he also sets sharp lines, saying: “I will give them if Democrats are not identified as democratic socialists.”
He continued: “The idea of giving a bunch of cash to someone like a drunk sailor…is a bad idea.”
Here’s the paradox: While party brands are hit – Quinnipiac polls show that only 30% of Americans are good for Democrats, the lowest rating since 2008, Democratic voters themselves have been fired. A CNN/SSSRS poll showed that 72% of Democrats and Democratic voters were “very motivated” to vote before the midterm, while 50% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters were shown.
Why? Because Trump is a huge equalizer. No matter how broken or disillusioned Democrats feel about their party, Trump is a polarized figure who unified them. Democrats don’t need to fall in love with their party to show up – they just need to stare clearly at who is sitting in the Oval Office.
So, this is the way forward: Democrats can fight for ideology in 2028, when the Trump era is finally over and the real debate on the party’s soul can be the center stage. But in 2026, the task is simpler. Unity is not optional. Call it a temporary truce – Progressives and centrists don’t have to agree on everything, but they do have to agree on one thing: stop Trump’s control over Congress.
If Democrats want to win, they will need less naval gaze, more coalition building and messages beyond “We’re not Trump.” Because fear may open the wallet, but hope is actually what gets people to participate in the polls.
Lindsey Granger is a contributor to the News Country and co-host of Hill’s commentary show “Rise”. This column is an editorial transcription of her live comments.