In early February a group of Democratic strategists, elected officials, and political operatives gathered at a retreat organized by the centrist group Third Way. The goal was clear: figure out how to win back working-class voters and chart a path forward for a party still grappling with its identity and message.
The conclusions they reached were candid — and, at times, scathing. The report produced after the retreat laid bare what many moderates in the party have been saying for years: Democrats have lost touch with key segments of the electorate, particularly working-class voters, and much of that disconnect stems from an overemphasis on identity politics, weak economic messaging, and a failure to push back against the most vocal progressive voices.
According to the report, many working-class voters see Democrats as more focused on cultural battles than on the economic struggles of everyday people. The party's messaging often leans too intellectual or politically correct, creating an impression that Democrats are speaking past voters rather than to them. There was particular criticism of the party's attachment to elite institutions like academia and the media — institutions that working-class Americans often view with suspicion.
A striking takeaway was the sense that Democrats have allowed the far left to dictate the party’s image, making it seem more extreme than it actually is. "One of the key ways to win back the trust of the working class," the report stated, "was to reduce far-left influence and infrastructure on the party." That means creating a moderate talent pipeline, pushing back against progressive staffers and advocacy groups that exert outsize influence, and refusing to engage in "ideological purity tests" that alienate mainstream voters.
The friction within the party is not new, but it has become more pronounced in the wake of recent elections. The retreat underscored a growing divide between the Democratic consultant class and the loudest, most progressive voices — a gap that has only widened as working-class support continues to slip away. "In the wake of this election, where it became so evident that the things that the left was doing and saying deeply hurt [Kamala] Harris and down-ballot Democrats," said Third Way’s Matt Bennett, "a lot of people are looking to us, not just Third Way, but the moderates in the party, and saying, ‘We got to do it your way, because the other way ain’t working.’"
Beyond the cultural disconnect, the report highlighted how Democrats have struggled to build economic trust. Many voters, especially in the working class, view the party as hostile to wealth and overly focused on redistribution rather than economic growth. The GOP, on the other hand, has successfully positioned itself as the "aspirational party," appealing to voters’ desire for upward mobility — a narrative Democrats have failed to counter. The report was blunt: voters often feel Democrats care more about the very poor than the struggling middle class.
The solution, according to the retreat's participants, is a shift in both tone and substance. Democrats need to move away from messaging that centers on handouts and instead talk about opportunity, work, and economic empowerment. Policies should be framed in ways that highlight better wages and job creation rather than leaning into phrases that conjure images of government dependency. The party must embrace pro-business, pro-growth language while still holding corporations accountable for abuses — a balance that many strategists feel has been missing.
But the report went beyond just policy prescriptions. It emphasized the need for a broader cultural reset within the party — one that reconnects with American traditions and working-class values. Suggestions ranged from showing up at tailgates and gun shows to embracing patriotic imagery and acknowledging the importance of faith and community. "The party should embrace patriotism, community, and traditional American imagery," the report stated, signaling a deliberate move to reclaim symbols that have too often been ceded to the right.
Another key recommendation was for Democrats to own their failures — particularly in large cities where the party dominates. There was a call for more accountability and a focus on improving local governance rather than reflexively defending the status quo. "The party needs to own the failures of Democratic governance in large cities and commit to improving local government," the report urged. This is a notable shift from the instinct to blame systemic issues without acknowledging the party's role in addressing them.
It’s important to clarify, however, that this retreat was not organized by the Democratic National Committee or the Association of State Democratic Committees. As one noted on social media, "The retreat was hosted by Third Way, a 501c4 group, not a Democratic group. All ideas welcome to rebuild the party, but wanted to make that clear." This distinction highlights an ongoing tension within the party — the struggle between moderates seeking a course correction and the institutional party apparatus that must balance competing factions.
The big question now is whether these recommendations will translate into real change. With former President Trump’s return to the national stage, moderates see an opening to recast the Democratic brand as the reasonable alternative. The selection of Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin — a moderate who outperformed Harris in most of her state’s counties —to deliver the party's response to Trump's State of the Union tomorrow was seen as a signal that the party is leaning into this strategy.
Ultimately, the Third Way report offers a clear warning. Without a course correction, Democrats risk further alienating the voters they need most. The challenge ahead is finding a way to bridge the gap — not just between the party’s left and center, but between its leaders and the working-class Americans they hope to win back.
How does this stack up against the fact that many Trump voters were also Bernie voters? Bernie doesn't find NASCAR rallies necessary, and he doesn't moderate his policy prescriptions. He is authentic and plain spoken, not full of jargon. He doesn't moderate his views depending on the audience. I believe voters are looking for authenticity rather than canned and careful plans. My concession to the messaging issue is that I also believe that focusing on and constantly naming the many smaller constituencies leaves the impression that straight white males are the problem, rather than the racism and homophobia found in every possible breakout group.
Rather than blaming the Harris campaign, as well as the things she stood for, what about blaming the FACT that everyone with two eyes to see could see that Biden should have stepped out at year 2.5, had her ascend to the presidency, and had her run as the incumbent with her own voice and leadership proven. Failing that, at year 2.5 he should have announced that he would not run so that all candidates could have made their cases. I cannot tell you how angry I am at Jill and the other Biden handlers.
Another article indicated that there was a notion that moving away from small dollar donations was necessary. REALLY??? I don't think small dollar donors are responsible for whatever shift took place. As a small dollar donor, I was voting against all of the things that Trump represented, and which have come to pass already. Plenty of people were. Former Republicans were. But if that proposal simply meant that they would suggest not bombarding their small dollar donors a dozen times a day, then I am all in for it.
These "Third Way" clowns have never had anything useful to offer the Democratic Party, and that goes double for their recommendations here, which amount to Dems going Nascar Lite. That is just phenomenally stupid, in part because conceding ground to Republican/Maga reactionary/racist/misogynist/homophobic/anti-immigrant policies and ideology is morally repugnant, and in part because it doesn't work. Third Wayers claim the progressive left is too concerned with "identity" issues even as state legislators in red states are passing laws and making proposals to destroy the lives of trans people, end gay marriage, disenfranchise women and minority voters, and on and on. Seems that Repubs are still pretty obsessed by all that culture war stuff. The difference here is that the right is whipping up hate against chimeras, while progressives (and some moderate Dems) are working to protect the lives and livelihoods of the very real people targeted by these ginned up moral panics.
These people should never be allowed anywhere near a political campaign ever again. They're chronic losers advising us to be "moderate" in the face of eugenicists and fascists.