Why Democrats' Focus on Identity Politics Might Be a Mistake

As President Joe Biden's term nears its end, Democrats are grappling with a tough question: Did focusing on identity politics cost them the 2024 election? Many blame Biden for Donald Trump's return, but the truth is more complicated. Democrats haven't won a presidential race without Biden since 1996. Even Barack Obama chose Biden as his running mate, hinting at the party's talent pool issues. Fast forward to 2020, when Biden picked Kamala Harris as his VP. She wasn't popular or principled, but she checked the right boxes: race and sex. Democrats knew Biden wasn't fit for a two-term presidency but saw Harris as their best option. This strategy failed, as seen in Clinton's 2016 loss. The party's choice of Harris wasn't about electability, but about correcting past wrongs. However, this led to a weak candidate who couldn't win, even with media backing. Biden, Harris, Clinton, and Obama have led Democrats to a dead end. To move forward, the party must rethink its approach to identity politics.

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