By John Q. Hosedrinker 
New research challenges the assumption that Democrats lost the 2024 election due to moving too far left. Polling indicates that voters who supported Biden in 2020 but didn’t vote in 2024 actually favor more progressive policies, such as affordable healthcare and holding the wealthy accountable. These voters cited economic concerns and the perceived “lesser of two evils” as reasons for not voting. The data suggests that Democrats could regain support by focusing on these issues and offering clear solutions to address them.
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Democratic voters who skipped 2024 are clearly a topic generating a lot of strong opinions, and it’s easy to see why. The disappointment and frustration are palpable, with many commenters expressing anger and bewilderment at the decision to abstain from the election. The core sentiment is that those who stayed home, despite potentially wanting candidates like Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, inadvertently contributed to a less desirable outcome. The feeling is that the stakes were too high to sit out, with the threat of a second Trump term weighing heavily on people’s minds.
The argument often revolves around the perceived consequences of inaction. Many believe that skipping the election essentially legitimized the opposing side, potentially opening the door to policies and ideologies they strongly disagree with. This is where the anger toward these voters stems from, as many feel their choices have real-world implications and impact the lives of others. The common refrain is that while progressive ideals are valued, the priority should have been preventing a potentially disastrous outcome.
Focusing on the type of candidates these voters would prefer is a key point. The comments repeatedly emphasize the desire for figures like Bernie Sanders and AOC. These are individuals seen as representing progressive values: a willingness to challenge the status quo, champion policies that address inequality, and fight for the working class. This aspiration speaks to a hunger for authentic representation and a desire for politicians who genuinely represent their constituents’ interests. The issue, as many see it, is that this desire for the “perfect” candidate led some to inaction in an election that had very real consequences.
However, there’s a clear acknowledgement that practical politics often requires compromise. The reality of the situation means that the ideal candidate isn’t always available. Many felt that the most important thing was to vote and keep the current progressive trajectory, even if the candidate wasn’t their first choice. They understood that the alternative was far worse. The emphasis is on strategic voting, accepting a “lesser evil” in order to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
There is also a sense that the Democratic party needs to address the concerns of these voters to prevent future abstentions. There is a clear call to action: more progressive policies, a focus on the working class, and aggressive action against corporate power. The message is that if the party wants to attract and retain these voters, it must demonstrate a commitment to the values and policies they hold dear. In the end, some feel that if the party doesn’t listen, they will continue to see the same problems with the same outcomes.
There is also the argument that the party needs a younger face to attract younger voters. The concern with an aging Bernie is a lack of energy and new ideas, with AOC being used as a prime example of new ideas and energy. The call is to find a candidate with the vision and energy to inspire a new generation of voters.
Some people also think that ranked-choice voting could have solved the problem. The suggestion is that if voters could rank their preferences, those who wanted a more progressive candidate could still have voted strategically.
Overall, the consensus is that skipping the 2024 election was a mistake. While understandable, the frustration comes from the real and perceived negative consequences of that decision. Moving forward, there’s a call for the Democratic party to take the concerns of progressives seriously and offer policies and candidates that resonate with those values. Failing to do so could risk further alienating a significant portion of the electorate, potentially leading to a continuation of the same pattern.