Democrat commentator Julian Epstein said on Fox Business Wednesday that its leaders are driving themselves into political ruin by embracing fringe ideas that alienate voters.
With a sinking approval rating after their 2024 losses, Democrats scrambled to rebrand, as some conceded their message sounds more like a lecture than a campaign pitch. Appearing on “The Evening Edit,” Epstein said the party’s collapse stems from its fixation on cultural and ideological battles pushed by academic elites and activist groups.
“The Democratic Party is in the dumps. Every single indicator, whether it’s fundraising, party registration or ID, whether it is all of the public polling that we have on all of the lead issues from the economy to cultural issues, Democrats are cratering,” Epstein said.
Epstein said Democratic elites have prioritized ideological experiments over kitchen-table concerns, leaving everyday Americans feeling abandoned.
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“The reason for that is they continue to pray at the altar of these Pagan idols. Let’s erase gender. Let’s erase borders. Let’s ignore crime and erase the police. Let’s erase our energy dominance. And to most people, Ashley, these things are nuts. But they come from the academic. These ideas come from the academic and the activist left who is not concerned with voters,” Epstein told guest host Ashley Webster.
Epstein warned that activist academics are dragging the party into decline, adding they thrive by casting Americans as “victims of the oppressed” while leaving the Democratic brand “toxic.” (RELATED: ‘Bad, Bad For The Democrats’: CNN’s Harry Enten Says GOP Party Registration At Strongest Level In More Than 20 Years)
“They’re more concerned with indoctrinating enough people that they are victims, that they are oppressed. And that these activists and academics are liberators of the oppressed. It serves their career interests, but it is devastating for the party. And that is why the party’s brand is toxic,” Epstein said.
Voter registration data says Democrats lost about 2.1 million registered voters between 2020 and 2024 across 30 states and Washington, D.C., while Republicans gained 2.4 million during the same period, according to the New York Times. Several Democrats told The Hill the sharp losses highlight a trend that should serve as a wake-up call for party leaders.
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