Jacobs: Democrats we need to stop beating ourselves up

With the election last fall of Donald Trump, Democrats have once again commenced the traditional ritual of self-punishment that comes with every setback, every election loss. We love endlessly beating up ourselves and our party leaders, but it does nothing to advance us to our ultimate goal: winning majorities in the House and Senate in 2026 and the presidency in 2028.

Rank-and-file Democrats are rightfully angry, dispirited and frustrated. We see the Trump administration trampling the Constitution, dismantling the federal government, ending critical programs, and threatening the social safety net that has been the hallmark of Democratic achievements since Franklin Roosevelt. However, assembling the "circular firing squad" with every setback, over every tactical disagreement or perceived leadership misstep, is counterproductive. It's bad for the party, it’s bad for our country, it does nothing to attract the middle-of-the-road voters we need to win, and it plays right into the hands of Trump and the MAGA Republicans.

Everyone need not agree with Sen. Chuck Schumer’s decision to not invoke the filibuster and shut down the government. We’re not the Republicans. However, the vitriol, personal attacks, and calls for his resignation over that decision not only do damage to him but they will inhibit tomorrow’s leaders from making controversial decisions in the future. This habit of attempting to tear down those with whom we disagree, exercised by too many in our party, divides us at the exact moment that our future success necessitates unity. As Rep. Josh Riley from upstate Endicott recently told a group of county chairs: "Democrats need to be united, not unanimous."

Calling for a more aggressive leadership approach is the understandable outgrowth of a frustration that comes from losing the House and Senate majorities and the presidency. But more aggressive leadership also needs to be effective and smart. And smart leadership is about more than just taking up the fight. It’s about fighting and winning.

So, what can Democratic leaders do to fight back? Yes, we need to be loud and clear about the policies we find so repugnant. But we also need to put forward our own plan — to tell voters what Democrats will do when they give US the majority. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul has put forward an array of budget and legislative proposals designed to make living in our state both more affordable and safer.

Nationally, we need to clearly lay out our own vision for America, proposing bold, creative and impactful solutions to provide a clear contrast to the chaos and incompetence emanating from Washington. We need specific proposals to address the growing income disparity crisis in our country, bring tax relief to low- and middle-income renters, refinance student loan debt, and close unnecessary tax loopholes that favor the wealthy but do little or nothing to benefit our broader economy. We need to make our capitalist system fair again.

Voters need to once more see Democrats as the party fighting to renew the "American dream," favoring common sense solutions, and working for social justice and fairness without tearing anyone else down along the way. We should not only be the party that does good, but also the party that makes people feel good. That will be in sharp contrast to what people are beginning to feel from the current administration. And in the end, that will lead us to our ultimate objective: electoral victories in 2026 and 2028.

This guest essay reflects the views of Jay S. Jacobs, chairman of the Nassau County and New York State Democratic Party.