John Della Volpe, a well-known pollster from Harvard University, has an important message for the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party: Act quickly with effective solutions for voters in distress, or the party risks failure. “Millions of Americans aren’t shifting right — they’re walking away. They’re abandoning a Democratic Party and democratic system they believe abandoned them first. This isn’t realignment — it’s abandonment,” the pollster known for his surveys of the youth vote said.
In a memo addressed to the incoming leader of the Democratic National Committee and published on his Substack, “JDV on Gen Z,” Della Volpe offered a candid assessment of the nation and the 2024 election. He emphasized that Democrats must undergo a significant reinvention by prioritizing kitchen-table issues over wokeness, according to the Washington Examiner.
“This post-election analysis should not start with the question about moving left or right. It must begin by filling the vacuum of unaddressed daily struggles before it gets filled with something else. The typical response will be to fill that vacuum with new policies, messages, or words. But that’s precisely backward. Before we can talk about solutions, we need to rebuild trust. Before we can restore trust, we need to listen. Really listen,” he wrote. That begins with making listening to voters a priority. He suggested creating “Community Solutions Centers where local leaders, young organizers, and experienced politicians come together to shape solutions. These aren’t just places to air grievances; they’re workshops for democracy where frustration is transformed into action.”
Secondly, it is important to not only talk but also take action. He recommended showcasing successful programs from Democrats across the country that aim to expand healthcare and the economy for local communities. “The Democratic Party needs a new infrastructure to make progress visible and connect local wins to national priorities,” Della Volpe said. And third, get out of DC and make connections within the country. “The most vital voices for democracy aren’t in D.C. — they’re in our neighborhoods. These are the local leaders who know their communities’ needs because they live them every day.”
He concluded that “the choice isn’t about moving left or right — it’s about moving closer to the real struggles people face every day. Millions of Americans haven’t changed their values — they’ve lost faith that Democratic Party and our institutions can deliver on those values. By putting community voices at the center, delivering visible progress, and building lasting relationships, the Democratic Party can demonstrate that abandonment isn’t inevitable — that democracy can still work for everyone, not just during elections, but every day.”
For his part, President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican Party managed to capture the votes of non-traditional groups this election cycle, moving the entire country more to the right. That included nearly half of Hispanics, black men in the double digits, and younger Americans — all groups that traditionally supported Democrats.