On Chicago’s Morning Answer this week, host Dan Proft and National Review editor Rich Lowry discussed new voter registration data showing a sharp shift toward the Republican Party over the past four years. According to tracking from the New York Times, Republicans have gained 2.4 million registered voters since 2020, while Democrats have lost 2.1 million across 30 states that report party affiliation. The net swing amounts to 4.5 million voters—a development Proft called “a big move.”
The conversation turned to the Democratic Party’s response, with Proft pointing to signs of unease among media commentators and party figures. He cited criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempts to rebrand Democrats online and highlighted former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo’s comments on the Benny Johnson Podcast lamenting that today’s party no longer resembles that of his late father, Mario Cuomo. Proft argued that Democrats’ messaging remains inconsistent, particularly on issues such as crime and immigration, which he said they once defended but are now struggling to reframe.
Lowry agreed, noting that while economic policy has shifted left, the bigger challenge for Democrats lies in cultural debates. “Mario Cuomo was controversial for saying Catholics could be pro-choice,” Lowry observed. “Now Democrats are dealing with questions about gender in sports and race-based policies that go far beyond that era.” He suggested the party would need to moderate on key cultural issues and produce a new, compelling figure ahead of the 2028 race if it hopes to regain footing.
Both Proft and Lowry questioned whether Democrats’ recent attempts to talk about affordability and housing would resonate with their base, which remains energized by attacks on former President Donald Trump. Lowry also raised the possibility that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could quickly emerge as a leading contender if she enters the race, given her ability to attract attention and excite the party’s progressive wing.
The discussion also touched on Republican strategy, particularly around voting methods. Lowry cautioned against universal mail-in ballots but stressed that Republicans cannot afford to abandon early voting and vote-by-mail programs, which he called “tactically important” for turning out reliable voters while conserving resources for harder-to-reach groups. Both agreed that while Trump continues to dominate the party, future candidates will face challenges in mobilizing “Trump-only” voters once he is no longer on the ballot.
Lowry concluded that the Democratic Party may need another electoral defeat before making meaningful changes, much as it did in the 1980s before Bill Clinton’s rise. “It’s possible to say ‘I get it now,’ and voters will forgive that,” he said, “but you have to be at least within a hundred miles of sincerity. That’s not what we’re seeing from Gavin Newsom.”
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