The Intercept Briefing Democrats Are Missing Political Layups And Dooming Us All
Aug 22, 2025
Nina Smith, a seasoned Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to Stacey Abrams, shares her insights on the alarming voter shifts from Democrats to Republicans since 2020. She emphasizes that the party is failing to execute basic strategies, like voter registration, which she likens to missing easy layups in basketball. The conversation highlights the urgent need for Democrats to adapt their approach, engage authentically with constituents, and unify diverse coalitions to revitalize their electoral strengths against a consolidating GOP.
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Voter Registration Is The Crucial Layup
- Democrats are losing voter registration in 30 states that track party registration, a fundamental structural failure.
- Nina Smith argues this gap is the basic 'layup' the party must stop missing to win elections.
Strategic Drift Since 2006
- Smith says the Democratic Party has lost strategic focus and infrastructure since roughly 2006.
- She links that shift to weakened organizing, donor patterns, and failure to adapt after key cycles.
Fight And Communicate A Positive Vision
- Do both fight back publicly and clearly communicate a positive vision that explains what Democrats stand for.
- Rebuild grassroots engagement by investing in College Democrats, county parties, and local infrastructure.