Post-Election: Time for Democrats to Pivot on the Economy
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Key Takeaways
- Prior to the election, Democrats staunchly maintained that the economy was strong, despite voter objections.
- As Trump enters office again, Democratic rhetoric on the economy is beginning to shift, with noticeable opposition to Trump’s policies.
- Overall, there are inverse sentiment patterns among Democrats and Republicans on the health of the economy.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
5,500
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
7 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
The Democratic Party’s economic messaging during the Biden administration was that “everything is okay” and “it’s not as bad as you think.” Since the election, rhetoric has begun to shift in tone and focus. With Trump back in office, Democrats are remembering the importance of acknowledging the voters’ plight in a down economy.
Voter Sentiment
MIG Reports data from recent online discussion shows the inverse patterns of public perception among Democrats and Republicans.
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Jobs
- 70% of Democratic-leaning voters are positive about jobs under Biden.
- 68% of Republicans are critical, citing illegal immigrating competition government job growth.
Economy
- 30% of Democrats praise Biden’s economy, citing healthcare and education funding.
- 20% voice dissatisfaction with inflation and policy mismanagement.
- 65% of Republicans are critical of Biden’s economy, including inflation and wage stagnation.
Trade
- 70% of Democratic voters worry about Trump’s tariff plans leading to trade wars.
- 65% of Republican voters support aggressive trade policies to correct imbalances.
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Post-Election Rhetoric
Fiscal Responsibility
Since November, Democratic messaging has shifted toward acknowledging fiscal concerns, including national debt, which consumes nearly 30% of government revenue. Voter frustration with inefficient spending, particularly on foreign aid and disaster management, has driven calls for greater accountability. Comparatively, pre-election rhetoric often downplayed fiscal mismanagement, focusing instead on equity-driven narratives.
“America Last” Social Safety Nets
Democrats consistently champion social safety nets like unemployment benefits and healthcare programs. Advocating for unemployment benefits for illegal immigrants draws sharp criticism from Republicans, independents, and some disenchanted Democrats.
Post-election, their rhetoric is focusing on defending these programs against Republican critiques. However, voter sentiment reveals growing dissatisfaction with how Biden has implemented and prioritized these policies.
Equity-Focused Policies
The Democratic push for taxing the wealthy and funding climate initiatives continues, but voter dissatisfaction with delayed tangible benefits is growing. Progressive rhetoric on equity contrasts sharply with middle-class frustrations over rising living costs and inflation.
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Strategic Shifts in Messaging
Inflation and Cost-of-Living
Inflation remains a pivotal voter issue. With Biden leaving office and Trump entering, Democrats are starting to adopt a more realist stance. They are more willing to acknowledge the reality of inflation under Trump 2.0. This contrasts with pre-election narratives, where Democrats minimized inflationary concerns.
Trade and Global Economics
Democratic fear about tariffs and trade wars brings rhetoric around potential consumer price increases. Pre-election messaging often emphasized balanced trade, even as Biden continued many of the trade policies from Trump 1.0. However, sentiment shows Republicans are successfully framing tariffs as necessary for economic nationalism.
Jobs and Employment
Job creation under Biden is a central Democratic talking point as they tout more than 250,000 nonfarm payroll increases in December 2024 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. However, Republican critiques linking job market struggles to policies benefiting illegal workers and job growth from government jobs is causing a pivot to acknowledging job displacement.
Contrasts with Republican Messaging
Republicans maintain focus on fiscal conservatism and economic nationalism. They emphasize inflation control, debt reduction, and middle-class tax relief. This contrasts with progressive idealism and perceptions of rampant spending under Biden.
Recommendations
- Capitalize on Inflation Concerns: Highlight Democratic unwillingness to address inflation and jobs under Biden—connect this to middle-class hardships.
- Emphasize Fiscal Conservatism: Contrast Democratic spending inefficiencies with Republican calls for debt reduction and the goals of DOGE.
- Push for Economic Nationalism: Frame aggressive trade policies as a defense of American jobs and sovereignty.
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