Overview of What is the Democratic Party? What Could It Be?
This Ezra Klein Show conversation with former Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wickler explores a central question in American politics: what is the Democratic Party, what do voters think it is, and what should it become? Wickler argues that the party is less a fixed institution than a mix of elected officials, activists, donors, local committees, and public perceptions—often a “blob” people blame for everything they dislike about politics. The discussion focuses on how Democrats can rebuild trust by delivering tangible results, organizing year-round, and making government feel effective again.
Main Themes and Takeaways
1. The 2024 election was driven mainly by affordability
- Wickler argues that inflation, prices, and economic insecurity were the dominant issues in 2024, both in the U.S. and across other advanced democracies.
- He says Harris’s loss in Wisconsin, though very narrow, reflected a broad voter demand for change amid a sense that life had become harder and more expensive.
- Even where Democrats underperformed at the top of the ticket, Wisconsin Democrats still did well down-ballot, including:
- Tammy Baldwin’s Senate win
- gains in state legislative seats
2. Democratic approval is low because people want results, not rhetoric
- Wickler says many voters do not want to “go back” to the previous party; they want something that works.
- Democrats are unpopular, in part, because people do not believe the party has delivered concrete improvements to their lives.
- He describes a broad public feeling that the system is broken, politics is intrusive, and regular people are not being served.
3. The Democratic Party should be the party that makes government work
- Wickler’s core definition of Democrats: the party that wants to make government work for people.
- But he acknowledges that government is often structured to fail:
- blocked by institutions
- constrained by bad design
- unable to respond quickly or effectively
- He argues Democrats can rebuild credibility by being excellent at governing and showing visible delivery.
4. Parties used to be embedded in everyday civic life
- Wickler contrasts today’s hollowed-out parties with older party structures that were deeply local and personal.
- In the past, parties:
- welcomed new citizens
- maintained block captains and neighborhood contacts
- connected voters to community life
- Today, most interactions with parties are impersonal:
- mass texts
- emails
- online appeals
- He argues parties should again become human-scale organizing networks, not just digital message machines.
5. The formal party vs. the “blob”
- Wickler distinguishes between:
- the formal party apparatus: DNC, state parties, county parties
- the broader “Democratic blob”: elected officials, pundits, online activists, and the general Democratic ecosystem
- He says people often blame the formal party for things that are really driven by the larger political brand.
- The job of the formal party should be to create a home for grassroots organizing and local trust-building.
6. Primaries should stay open and democratic
- Wickler defends big-tent primaries and the legitimacy of voter-driven nomination processes.
- He argues that even if primaries produce candidates some party insiders dislike, it is better than a smoke-filled-room model.
- In his view, public participation is essential to legitimacy and party unity after the primary.
7. Democrats are more unified on economics than they get credit for
- Wickler pushes back on the idea that Democrats are hopelessly divided.
- He says many factions—from centrists to DSA-backed candidates—are converging on a message of affordability and economic relief.
- He contrasts that with Republicans, whom he sees as mostly unified around loyalty to Donald Trump.
8. Foreign policy fights are harder because they are moral, not just strategic
- He sees Israel-Gaza as a more volatile issue than domestic economics because the conflict becomes a test of moral identity, not just policy preference.
- Wickler says such debates can be legitimate in a democracy, but should remain nonviolent and bounded by democratic norms.
9. Winning swing voters requires trust, not just persuasion
- Wickler describes the “median voter” as often being someone who:
- does not live and breathe politics
- cares about family, work, and community more than ideology
- wants to know a candidate is on their side
- He leans on the idea that voters build a candidate “constellation” from a few key impressions; campaigns cannot control everything, only a few salient stars.
10. Ron Johnson’s success in Wisconsin is partly about listening
- Wickler says Johnson’s electoral success comes from a mix of:
- favorable waves
- speaking to alienated voters
- projecting himself as a champion of the ignored
- Even when Wickler strongly disagrees with Johnson’s positions, he acknowledges that Johnson is politically effective at making some voters feel heard.
11. The DNC should focus on message, money, and mobilization
- Wickler cites Nancy Pelosi’s three-part formula:
- message
- money
- mobilization
- He argues:
- message is mostly created by candidates themselves, not the party bureaucracy
- money matters enormously, especially in a post–Citizens United environment
- mobilization is the most powerful and durable lever
- His preferred model is building thick local organizing infrastructure that can influence close races year after year.
What the Democratic Party Could Become
Wickler’s ideal Democratic Party is:
- a wide tent
- a local organizing home
- a trust-building institution
- a party that helps make government effective and accountable
- a vehicle for democracy, rights, and economic fairness
He believes the party’s long-term strength will come less from clever messaging and more from:
- neighborhood teams
- year-round organizing
- voter protection work
- support for local candidates
- visible delivery of public services
Practical Ways to Help, According to Wickler
For people who want to be useful—even in blue states—Wickler suggests:
- volunteering for voter protection hotlines
- joining or starting giving circles
- donating to state-level infrastructure groups
- supporting local parties and down-ballot races
- helping build trusted community networks
Books Ben Wickler Recommended
The Master of the Senate by Robert Caro
- A study of how one senator helped make the U.S. Senate function during a period of paralysis.
- Wickler sees it as a lesson in institutional reform and political possibility.
Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott
- Explores how top-down, utopian governance often fails.
- Wickler values it as a warning against overconfident technocratic planning and against ignoring local realities.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
- A hopeful, imaginative children’s book with a positive view of the future.
- Wickler likes its inclusive, creative vision of AI and society.
Bottom Line
Wickler’s argument is that Democrats will not recover by branding alone. They need to deliver visible results, rebuild local trust, and make the party feel like a real civic home. In his view, the Democratic Party’s future depends on whether it can again become the organization that helps ordinary people solve problems—not just a national label attached to campaigns and conflict.