2025 blue wave is not a ‘swing-state model’ for Democrats: Joe Concha
The article discusses the implications of the 2025 election results for future democratic strategies, particularly the 2026 midterm elections. Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha advises Democrats not to rely on their 2025 “blue wave” victories-largely achieved in traditionally Democratic strongholds like New York City, New Jersey, and California-as a model for swing states or purple states. He notes that while Democrats performed well among younger voters, women, and immigrants in urban areas, they risk alienating key working-class voters in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia if they continue focusing heavily on these demographics.
Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in 2024, also highlighted Democrats’ loss of working-class support in his state, criticizing the party for focusing more on people “who don’t work or won’t work.” Concha adds that the economy’s performance will play a significant role in the 2026 elections, influenced by factors such as President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. If the economy underperforms, socialists may push their agenda of free benefits.
Republican leaders, responding to the 2025 losses, attribute them to changing demographics and factors like the lack of Trump on the ballot and the government shutdown. Figures like Vivek Ramaswamy suggest Republicans focus on affordability and avoid identity politics, while Gov. Ron DeSantis points to demographic shifts and voter migration as reasons for GOP defeats.the piece stresses that both parties must tailor their strategies carefully for the 2026 midterms, as success in blue states does not guarantee victories in swing or purple states.
2025 blue wave is not a ‘swing-state model’ for Democrats: Joe Concha
Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha said Wednesday that the Democratic Party would be “wise” not to use its 2025 election strategy in the 2026 midterm elections, as it could alienate key voting blocs.
Democrats swept the 2025 elections nationwide, with notable victories in the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, the New York City mayoral election, and California’s Proposition 50. The night prior, former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in May 2024, said on The Daily Show that Democrats lost working-class voters in West Virginia because they believed the party spends more time on people who “don’t work or won’t work.”
Concha said the results of next year’s election will vary by state and agreed with Manchin’s assessment. He pointed to New York City as an example, noting that Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani drew significant support from younger college students, young women, and voters born outside the United States.
“That’s fine in New York, but Democrats are going to have a real problem in purple states where the working class, union workers, steelworkers, United Auto Workers, people that work in the restaurant industry, places like Pennsylvania and Michigan, Arizona, other states like North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, they are going to have some real problems there if they are alienating those types of folks,” Concha said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends First.
“So Democrats, they’d be wise not to look at these elections yesterday as some sort of road map,” Concha said. “Just because they won in blue states, it is not a swing-state model, guys.”
Concha also said the economy’s performance will play a major role in the 2026 elections, breaking down how it will be affected by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and if the economy “really starts to take off.” If this does not happen, Concha said “socialists” can make the argument for the “free stuff model.”
Trump blamed the Republican Party’s losses on Tuesday on his lack of presence on the ballot and the government shutdown. He also wrote “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” in a Truth Social post late Tuesday night, possibly referring to the 2026 midterm elections.
2025 ELECTION TAKEAWAYS: REPUBLICANS LOST AND THEY KNOW IT
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is currently running for governor in Ohio, encouraged Republicans to “focus on affordability” and “cut out the identity politics” in a video on X.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said on Fox News’s Hannity that changing voting demographics are responsible for the Republican Party’s 2025 losses. He said GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli would have won his elections in 2021 and Tuesday night had Republican voters in New Jersey not moved out.
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