'Identity crisis': Can Democrats 'deliver' following their 'historic', once in a generation victory?
A historic Democratic electoral breakthrough has transformed the American political landscape, but the party now faces an identity crisis as it seeks to convert electoral momentum into coherent governance.
The magnitude of the Democratic victory has intensified competing claims over the party's future direction. For former US diplomat and political analyst Laurie Dunden, the central question is whether the Democratic Party can convert electoral momentum into coherent governance.
Can they deliver?
Ideological struggles
Dunden examines the apparent disintegration of Donald Trump's 2024 electoral coalition alongside the Democratic Party's continuing ideological struggle between its progressive and centrist wings ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Political challenges
This dance is going to be very delicate to watch.
Dunden cautions against prematurely describing Trump as a lame duck: 'Trump is never going to stop being Trump.' The resulting struggle over congressional spending powers, presidential vetoes, tariffs and investigations promises to test the practical boundaries of American checks and balances.
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