this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2025
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"It wasn’t because Biden voters shifted to Trump—but because so many of them stayed home."

We must not repeat this same mistake again. Remember to always vote in every election and consider volunteering to knock on doors. It can make a difference. There are elections that are decided with just a small number of votes.

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[–] snooggums@piefed.world 55 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If the next Dem presidential candidate would refrain from getting buddy buddy with Republicans it would be a lot easier to put in the effort to overcome voter suppression.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 15 points 2 days ago

Well, I think there's definitely good reason to reach out to voters of all stripes. Including Republicans. But voters are different than politicians. By reaching out and inviting the politicians who enable the damage in amongst them. They just make themselves complicit.

Democrats would do much better if they reached out to their own voters at all. Not just dismiss them and pal around with other out of touch politicians.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This isn't "voter suppression" in this case. They suppressed themselves.

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[–] nymnympseudonym@piefed.social 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Kamala's not Good Enough

So you get Trump

"With every mistake We must surely Be learning "
-George Harrison

[–] velindora@lemmy.cafe 8 points 2 days ago

Have the day you voted for.

[–] StayDoomed@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Maybe have a fucking primary and people won't stay home.

[–] kmartburrito@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Or, you know, vote, because fucking LUCIFER is on the ballot.

[–] Stern@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I can appreciate not wanting Lucifer to win but the average person doesn't get motivated by lesser of the two evils, its not enough. The other guy has to make them want to get off their ass. Obama made people want to get out and vote. Trump did too, as much as I don't like to admit it.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 days ago (6 children)

the average person doesn’t get motivated by lesser of the two evils

A huge number of choices in life are just that. So suck it up, Buttercup.

This person isn't saying it's not enough for them personally, they're saying it's clearly, obviously, per all evidence, not enough for MANY people - objectively enough to turn an election. So if you want better leaders you must motivate voters by giving them something to vote for. Lesser of two fascists pisses me off but I'll hold my nose and vote. However, I also recognize this is a piss poor strategy since so many will not.

[–] I_Jedi@lemmy.today 7 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Your attitude isn't very inspirational.

[–] Mcdolan@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A Trump presidency isn't either.

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[–] Stern@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

If the voting public could be convinced of that Republicans would cease to be a viable party due to overwhelming voter turnout. But, well, Gestures to the last potus election

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Problem is they know millions of votes are happening, and so how much does their vote really matter? Taking the time out of their life to stand in a long line to cast a single vote among millions... Doesn't seem like it matters and other people will take care of it for them.

When they have something to bite for, they want to be a part of something. If it's just about making sure the worst stays out, it's a poorly motivated chore.

[–] ninexe@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

Why can't you tell the people nominating corporate puppets to suck it up and fall in line?

Why does it always have to be the working class that suffers so rich people can be richer?

Why can't you people be smarter?

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[–] timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

And that just means we Americans get what we deserve.

It's a civic duty. The only people to blame are ourselves.

[–] warbond@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't think that puts enough blame on the assholes with money who are taking advantage of the system and intentionally tipping the scales

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And one way they tip the scales is by pusing the message that, if the Democratic Partty candidate is less than perfect, don't vote. And meanwhile, corrupt, bloodthirsty criminals on the R side get a free pass. And the purists are too stupid to see that.

And I say this in full awareness of the DNC's role in gutting the effectiveness of the Democratic Party as an agent of change.

Vote the lesser evil if that's all there is. But also organize and drive corporate shills out of the party leadership.

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[–] Stern@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I gotta imagine a fair amount of opposition to stuff like early voting or vote by mail is rooted in the idea that the easier we make it the more likely folks will vote for the lesser evil.

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[–] butwhyishischinabook@piefed.social 20 points 1 day ago (14 children)

THEN STOP FUCKING RUNNING CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS WITHOUT MEANINGFUL PRIMARIES

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[–] flamiera@kbin.melroy.org 18 points 2 days ago

We kinda knew that anyways. Those people thought "ahhh, there couldn't possibly be that enough people to vote Trump again" and didn't vote until the fact broke out to them on election day.

And it's going to be an even harder pitch for Democrats if they keep pussy-footing the way that they have lately.

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Trump won because he ran unopposed.

[–] KelvarCherry@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Trump had a primary that he led in consistently. Kamala ran a weak campaign, but in the end, Kamala's name was on the ballot. Also, neither Kamala nor Trump could impact policy without the permission of Congress, which is occupied primarily by Republicans who each ran for that seat.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Also, neither Kamala nor Trump could impact policy without the permission of Congress

I submit to you: the entirety of 2025.

Republicans gave Trump his "Big Beautiful Bill" which included his ICE budget. Republicans could impeach Donald Trump at any point. A minority of Republicans could join Democrats in the House and Senate, and remove this entire administration from office, permanently. Republicans are following Trump because their Speaker of the House and Head of Senate say to. Speaker Mike Johnson and Head of Senate John Thune are supporting Trump because former speaker Kevin McCarthy was miserably removed by MAGA Republicans in part because he did not support Donald Trump's Big Lie

It sucks to thnk about, but I prefer truth over ignorance. Trump is the symptom, not the problem. If Vance, Trump, Miller, etc. were all shot dead, it would help by striking some fear into our reps, but it wouldn't solve the problem.

[–] tomatolung@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago

Way to Win pointed to three main problems that cost Democrats last year: Voters were upset not just about rising prices but about longer-term economic trends, and wanted change; Republicans and the far right have a built-in media advantage, thanks to years of investments, which made it harder for Democrats to break through; and movements on the left around issues like Gaza, racial and economic justice, and immigration weren’t aligned with the party.

Yea... Close...Not quite though. Basically, YOU HAVE TON FUCKING ACT YOU DIP SHITS! Do real things people can fucking believe in.

As it stand I still want both sides out of all the offices. When you actually represent me and the voters.... Not some corporate lobby group, PAC, or persons with more money than sense but "We The People", then I might vote for you.

Mamdani is a good start... If he follows through.

[–] ninexe@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

If you want me to vote, then you need to stop nominating corporate puppets.

I've showed up at every primary, for example.

[–] BoycottTwitter@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I guarantee you that for whatever district or race if you compare the Democrat and the Republican running in that race you'll find that the Democrat is less corporate and cares more about the people than the Republican in that race does. Voting for the Democrat even the one who wasn't your first choice in the primary brings you closer to where you want to be and helps shift the Overton window. Primaries typically happen every election cycle and eventually by electing enough Democrats flipping every seat you can will either result in the Democrat you believe is too corporate to shift their beliefs or will result in their ouster with someone who is less corporate.

[–] anarchiddy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

if you compare the Democrat and the Republican running in that race you'll find

This is the fucking problem, right here.

People dont make """"rational"""" choices when they're driven toward frustration and desparation, and democrats marketing themselves as 'not republicans' in lieu of offering any significant change is a massive source of that desparation.

[–] I_Jedi@lemmy.today 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The primaries are basically over by the time they reach my state.

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[–] Rhoeri@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I wouldn’t have thought that voting against fascism would have been something arms needed to be twisted over. But what do I know?

Everyone loves a good grassroots movement to outrage one another over!

[–] int_not_found@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

I just skimmend the article and the accompanying report. But the analysis of what happened is contrary to my understanding. As far as I'm aware voter turnout in swing states (aka the ones that are actually important) was actually higher in 2024 compared to the few last election cycles.

Compared to Clinton and Biden, Harris was able to draw from the not-voting pool in states, where it mattered. Just Trump did it better.

The conclusion, that following the populist narrative of your enemy instead of drafting your own looses you votes, may be right, but I think the analysis, how they got to that conclusion is not what actually happened.

Not a US citizen or particularly versed with US politics, so I would be happy to hear something contrary.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I posted a longer reply below about some of the exit polling and the pictures that kind of info paints. And yes, it's in contradiction to this article.

Objectively, the last several federal elections had the highest turnout of voters in US history, including highest percentages of youth voters. There was a LOT more wrong than "Dem voters stayed home." That's the same tired BS they've been shoving down our throat for decades.

I immediately distrust any article or "study" published by a group who also claim to have the strategy to "fix" it and have an investment plan for "getting voters to the polls." This smells a lot like attempt #4,497,349 to grab people's money and run.

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[–] Rhoeri@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (6 children)

These comments clearly show that people are completely fine to repeat the same mistakes that opened the door for a fascist to take up the throne.

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We've known since the day after election day something like 33 million fewer people voted, though.

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

It’s because America still doesn’t accept a woman can be president. Full stop.

Idiot Senile Rich Guy: 2

Highly Qualified Women: 0


Idiot Senile Rich Guy: 0

A Different Senile Rich Guy: 1

[–] ssladam@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You're being reductive. If Biden would have stepped back earlier, if Kamala wouldn't have coddled Israel, if the dems didn't cozy up to the Cheneys, if the party could have admitted where mistakes were made and promised to correct them, then dem voters would have felt like there's a chance for their interests to be represented, then the election would have been a landslide.

I'm not saying America isn't misogynistic, but the election loss isn't solely due to that.

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago

I agree with all the criticisms of the Dens, but none of that is worse than Trump. This would be different if we were talking about any other candidate, but we’re talking about a known rapist and scam artist who got actively let people die by a subpar reaction to a pandemic. Over 400,000 people died while Trump was in office during the pandemic.

After all that, they still voted for him over a woman.

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