Instead of Pandering, Democrats Should Try Changing Voters' Minds

[Qutzupalotl]

How can the party of liberalism make liberal ideas more popular? By creating a more liberal electorate. Yes, it can be done. Here are five ways how.

Perry Bacon
February 13, 2026

Early last year, polls and media commentary suggested that crime would be the defining issue of the New York City mayoral race. Then, Zohran Mamdani’s campaign started to take off. By the end of the race, the news organizations that conduct exit polls asked voters to choose the top issue animating their votes among these five choices: crime, cost of living, health care, immigration, and transportation. Mamdani had literally changed the language of the election, with pollsters asking about his framing (“cost of living”) instead of the usual terms, “jobs” and “the economy.” He had also changed voters’ priorities: A whopping 55 percent said cost of living was the most important issue, compared to only 22 percent who said crime.

And on Election Day in the Big Apple last November, nearly 40 percent of the city’s registered voters between ages 18 and 29 cast ballots, a massive increase from the 11 percent in 2021, according to Gothamist.

Mamdani didn’t win by looking at polls and then campaigning according to them. A 34-year-old socialist who had previously tweeted “#DefundTheNYPD” probably could not have won an election about who is toughest on crime against incumbent ex-cop Eric Adams and a pro-police Democrat like Andrew Cuomo. Instead, Mamdani, through his relentless focus on the costs of rent, groceries, and childcare, primed regular voters to judge the candidates on their affordability policies instead of their anti-crime ones and energized young, liberal voters who might have otherwise stayed home.

More: https://newrepublic.com/article/205884/democrats-pandering-change-voters-minds

[Qutzupalotl]

1. This came over on my FameLab newsletter.

George Lakoff's organization. Well worth your time to subscribe: https://www.theframelab.org/email/0e0eb103-26f0-4a2c-a876-dfeece54720a/?ref=lakoff-and-duran-framelab-newsletter

[J_William_Ryan]

2. "How can the party of liberalism make liberal ideas more popular"

Liberal ideas are very popular.

The problem is we have a political/electoral process that denies the people the means by which to implement those popular ideas.

[Qutzupalotl]

3. They could always be made more popular.

Persuading people is key. FrameLab is a great resource to help.

[bob4460]

4. Get rid of the corporate Dems

and bring back some real liberal Democrats and that will give Democrats something to vote for!!!