America’s voters have spoken. While the results were not what I had hoped for, the Democratic Party needs to listen. Defeat is not easy to take, but valuable lessons that can be applied to future elections can be learned.

During my work as an engineer, after every test of our new products, we were tasked to compile a summary of the lessons learned, both good and bad, from the test. The Democratic Party needs to do the same.

Democrats need to focus their message more directly on the economy. To quote Clinton strategist James Carville, “It’s the economy stupid.” Focus on the economy first. Once we have a good economy, then we can push for our other policy initiatives like alternative energy and climate change.

If the electorate is suffering from a perceived bad economy, they want to hear from their leaders what they are going to do to ameliorate the problem, and not about their plans for dealing with climate change, even though it is an important problem. Once the economy is on solid footing again then the electorate will more receptive to additional proposed policy changes.

The issues the Democratic Party chose to emphasize – abortion rights and the protection of democracy – did not register in poll after poll, as much as the economy and immigration. Voters repeatedly highlighted these issues as their most important concerns. Politicians are elected by the public and need to listen to their concerns. Those who fail to listen will find themselves out of a job.

Samuel Rosenthal
Portland