The Democrats’ history is peppered with moments of missed opportunity. Since 1978, when the party first began losing white working-class voters, it has consistently failed to address their concerns. As a result, the Democrats have hemorrhaged support in rural areas and small towns, leaving them vulnerable to Republican gains.
This pattern was evident in the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won many of the same counties that had voted for Barack Obama just four years earlier. The Democrats’ failure to connect with these voters has had a significant impact on the party’s ability to win elections and enact its agenda.