There are millions of  voters who feel defeated and disillusioned, and rightfully so. There are some of us who are pointing fingers at those we believe are responsible for this maddening defeat. However, if we are to move forward and save the country, there must be a sobering assessment of the Democratic Party

The Dems have played the same flawed strategy for years on the local, state and national levels, disregarding the growing strength of the reactionary forces. The party elites have ignored the right’s expanding influence on the entire electorate, not just its conservative base. The Dems have abandoned a 50-state strategy that educates and engages its constituents around a visionary platform for prosperity of the working class, and instead have focused their resources on a few battleground states. The Party has proven it can raise lots of money — the Harris-Walz team raised over a billion dollars in this election cycle. Money is insufficient without a plan.

The Dems’ miscalculations have resulted in successful gerrymandering by the Republicans that ensure legislative victories for decades. It has meant GOP trifectas in nearly half the states. It has given the Republicans the freedom to stack the courts at all levels to do their bidding. That trump was elected twice is a sobering, wake-up call for not just the Democratic Party, but for those of us who see authoritarianism on the horizon.

There is a new majority rising. It is all those folks that trump demeaned, criticized, and demonized on his way to the White House. They are all outlined as targets in the Project 2025 that attempts to usher in fascism — immigrants, unions, women, gay people, organized resistors, etc. Our mission is to galvanize that majority into a cohesive force, capable and committed to fighting for its self-interests. We will have to prevail in an atmosphere of disinformation, fear mongering, and repression.

The situation in Wisconsin is not perfect. There is broken trust between party officials, elected officials, voters, constituent groups and the disenfranchised. There is work to be done but you know where those pressure points are. You can serve as a beacon of hope for the purple and pinkish states who will continue to fight for political power. We will have to face the fact that the current Democratic leadership may be incapable of providing the kind of bold, strategic leadership that will be needed in this next period.