After Harris's loss to Trump in US elections, Democrats now leaderless in exile

In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris’s election defeat, Democrats are grappling with how to move forward, starting with selecting new leadership for the Democratic National Committee and strategising to counter the influence of President-elect Donald Trump.

As the party faces four more years of a Republican administration, with the GOP poised to control the Senate and possibly maintain its majority in the House, prominent Democrats are positioning themselves for leadership roles, including several governors seeking to “Trump-proof” their states.

Others argue the party needs a fresh face, pointing to blue-collar House members who outperformed Harris at the polls, the Washington Post reported.

“For the party that didn’t make it to 270 [electoral votes], this is not just about trading horses or changing donkeys. This is really about what fundamentally the American people have told us,” said Donna Brazile, a former DNC chairwoman.

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President Joe Biden, who announced in July he wouldn’t run for reelection, has seen his influence wane.

Harris, in her concession speech, encouraged Democrats to stay engaged but isn’t expected to lead the party; historically, parties rarely put defeated White House contenders in prominent roles, with Trump as a recent exception.

Meanwhile, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is stepping down, and some Democrats worry that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York isn’t yet battle-tested enough to lead if Democrats retake the House, the Washington Post’s report said.

The party’s direction remains unclear until a presidential nominee is chosen in the 2028 primaries, likely featuring Democratic governors already acting to insulate their states from expected GOP policies.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for a special session to strengthen protections for abortion, immigration, climate, and civil rights, declaring, “The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans to deploy staff to safeguard reproductive rights and gun laws, while New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s ready to fight Washington if it threatens his state’s values. “You come for my people, you come through me,” added Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Potential DNC Chair candidates, like Minnesota’s Ken Martin and Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler, are already on Democrats’ radar, as both leaders could help win back key “Blue Wall” states lost in 2016 and 2024. New Jersey’s Murphy and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley are also being encouraged to run, according to party insiders.

The new DNC leader will oversee both the party’s 2026 midterm efforts and 2028 primary season, with the possibility of reshaping the primary calendar. Biden moved South Carolina’s primary forward, bypassing Iowa and New Hampshire, a change some Democrats may want to reconsider.

Pivot right or stick to Economics 101?

While some in the party believe Democrats must shift left after the election loss, others argue they should pivot right. A successful chair, they say, must be able to build infrastructure, fundraise, and modernize the party, rather than focus solely on resisting Trump.

In Congress, House Democrats have begun debating a possible populist shift to reconnect with working-class voters. In swing districts, some Democratic candidates performed better than Harris, reclaiming three competitive seats in New York. On Long Island, many voters split their tickets, supporting both Trump and Democratic House candidates.

Some Democrats suggest running candidates with nontraditional backgrounds, such as Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, who owns an auto shop and won in a Trump district. Supporters of this approach argue that “relatable” Democrats can appeal to voters who see the party as out of touch.

With the party’s power diminished, Democrats are also preparing to address concerns from working-class voters, hoping to win back support and offer an alternative vision in a country where the GOP’s influence continues to grow.