Carville Urges Democrats to Ditch Identity Politics for a Winning Strategy
Washington, D.C. – April 11, 2025, 4:46 AM PDT
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has issued a fiery call to action, urging his party to abandon identity politics and refocus on a strategy centered on winning elections. Speaking on his Politics War Room podcast Thursday, the 80-year-old architect of Bill Clinton’s 1992 victory slammed the party’s recent approach, declaring, “No one cares about gender, race, or making history anymore. Democrats just want to win.” The blunt remarks come as the party grapples with its losses in 2024, including Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat to Donald Trump, and seeks a path forward amid a shifting political landscape.
Carville’s critique targets what he calls the “arrogance and stupidity” of prioritizing symbolic candidacies over electability. Reflecting on the 2016 and 2024 campaigns, he argued that choosing nominees based on identity—rather than their ability to connect with voters—has cost Democrats dearly. “We’re not here to check boxes,” he said, responding to a listener’s question about ending the notion of it being “someone’s turn.” Instead, he emphasized a singular focus: “The turn is to win. That’s it.” His comments echo earlier warnings, where he labeled identity-driven rhetoric as “a disaster” that alienated key voter groups like working-class men and rural communities.
The strategist’s prescription is clear: rebuild by addressing voters’ economic pain and everyday concerns. He pointed to the economy—his famed 1992 mantra, “It’s the economy, stupid”—as the cornerstone for 2026 and 2028 campaigns. Carville suggested rallying around broadly popular policies like codifying Roe v. Wade, raising the minimum wage to $15, and opposing Republican tax cuts for the wealthy, which he called “deeply unpopular.” He also urged Democrats to embrace new media like podcasts to deliver authentic, relatable messages, warning against the “faculty lounge” jargon he believes turns off mainstream Americans.
The timing of Carville’s remarks aligns with a rare moment of optimism for Democrats, buoyed by Trump’s April 9 tariff pause that sent markets soaring. Startups and small businesses, critical to economic messaging, are seizing the reprieve to secure funding, as seen with ventures like Drafted, which launched this week. Yet, Carville cautioned that the party must avoid complacency, criticizing Washington-based operatives for “farting around at wine and cheese parties” instead of organizing for midterms. Posts on social media platforms reflect growing support for his stance, with some users hailing it as a “wake-up call” for a party at its lowest approval in decades.
Critics within the party argue that abandoning identity politics risks sidelining marginalized groups, a tension Carville acknowledged but dismissed as secondary to victory. “If the best candidate’s a woman or a minority, rally behind them—but only if they can win,” he said. As Democrats face a Republican-controlled government and a fractured base, Carville’s battle cry signals a push for pragmatism over idealism, with the clock already ticking toward the next electoral fight.