Exclusive: Democrats want new leaders, focus on pocketbook issues, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

[Passages]

By James Oliphant and Jason Lange

June 19, 20256:11 AM EDT
Updated June 19, 2025

62% of Democrats polled say party needs new leadership
Democrats in poll seek focus on economic issues ahead of midterms
Poll shows rank-and-file Democrats see disconnect from party leaders on issues

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - Democrats want new leaders for their party, which many feel isn't focusing enough on economic issues and is over-emphasizing issues like transgender rights and electric vehicles, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
The poll identified a deep disconnect between what Democrats say their priorities are and the issues they believe party leaders care about most ahead of next year's midterm elections, when they hope to crack Republican control of Congress. They see their elected officials as not focused on helping families make ends meet and reducing corporate influence.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-want-new-leaders-focus-pocketbook-issues-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2025-06-19/


If you can't read the writing on the wall.......

[lovesfruit]

1. This doesn't surprise me

I’m one of younger Dems. The desire for new leadership seems to be a sentiment shared amongst my friends and acquaintances.

Thanks for the share!

[littlemissmartypants]

2. I'm an older Dem and I agree.

Most of us have been marching, protesting, volunteering, donating and more since the 60s/70s.

I personally, am exhausted. Time for the next generational group of energetic, patriotic Democrats to get busy.

I'm sure you'll do us all proud.

❤️

[Abstractartist]

3. I agree

I agree… I believe our party is stagnant and in need of new, younger, more progressive leadership. I know many will not agree with me on this, but sometimes things need to be said, not just thought of….. I believe the party needs to rethink its priorities pertaining to immigration, seniors, LGBTQ issues, and others. We need to push for reforms for all our problems and priorities, NOT just sound like we care about just trying to bring in votes.

Our next democratic controlled congress and white house must develop an immigration plan that actually works. Border security that works, Social programs that work for its citizens…. Healthcare for all is a must.

[LuvLoogie]

4. We ALWAYS talk about economic issues.

In terms of what benefits all. But the GOPs demonize and attack aspects of our Democratic demographic with bigotry. And it works because Democrats are going to throw the LGBTQ-BIPOC to the side to become GOP 1980s. Nobody talks about the environment anymore either.

It's all tied to economics. We champion trans rights because THEY ARE FUCKING HUMAN BEINGS.

Gets some balls Dems, and make the GOPs pay a price for their feeding of bigotries. Call out the media.

I have no faith, though. Not in this party as a counter to the racist shit show running things now. We're just punks.

[dalton99a]

5. Kick

[usonian]

6. I want fighters.

While the party and many leaders have been putting out press releases, speaking to small groups and the legislature.

BERNIE AND AOC are taking it to the people and scoring.

198 events in 12 states

Recent email:

The Fighting Oligarchy tour is on the road again. So far, we’ve held 198 events in 12 states - speaking to over 260,000 people. Now, we’re adding 3 more states to that list.

Tomorrow, I will be in Texas for the first of three events. We will also be doing events over the weekend in Louisiana and Oklahoma - including some very rural areas.

So. Why are we doing rallies in three very red states? The answer is obvious. We’ve got to educate, organize and mobilize working people in EVERY state in the country to fight oligarchy, authoritarianism, kleptocracy and the massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition and education that Trump is proposing.

The truth is that the ruling class agenda is NOT popular. Very few Americans believe that it’s appropriate for one person to own more wealth than the bottom 52% of households; that we provide massive tax breaks to billionaires; and that we maintain a corrupt campaign finance system that allows the very rich to buy elections.

Most Americans understand, no matter where they live, that the current economic and political systems are rigged and broken in favor of the rich and that we need fundamental changes. They want a government and economic policies that benefit all, not just the wealthy few.

Sadly, the Democratic Establishment is incapable and uninterested in mounting grassroots working class movements. Also, their economic agenda, to the degree that they have one, is very weak. Opposing Trump’s disastrous policies are enormously important. But it’s not enough. We need to provide a bold working class alternative agenda - based on economic, social, racial and environmental justice. And that’s what the Fighting Oligarchy tour is all about.

I also want you to know that we are not just doing rallies, as important as they are.

We have hired organizers in a number of states with Republican members of Congress who are now bringing people together to oppose Trump‘s “Big Beautiful Bill” and to lay the groundwork for a successful 2026 election.

We have mobilized thousands of volunteers in over a dozen states to do the same. We are also helping many hundreds of new candidates learn how to run for office for school board, city council, state representative and other local and statewide positions.

----
Bernie's short message is posted here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/13243041
copy and paste:

People attending rallies in huge numbers are saying
YES to raising the minimum wage,
YES to expanding Social Security,
YES to guaranteeing health care as a human right,
YES to cutting the cost of prescription drugs,
YES to paid family and medical leave,
YES to equal pay for equal work,
YES to more affordable housing,
YES to making childcare and higher education affordable to all,
YES to taking on the existential threat of climate change.

And most importantly they are saying
YES to a government and an economy that works for all of us and not just the billionaire class and the Oligarchs.



THEY ALL SHOULD BE OUT RAISING HELL
Tons of money do no good when you're not delivering the message when it counts,
which is RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

[somsai]

7. Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, agree on many issues

at the 75% to 80% rate or higher, but we never ever seem to do more than list them on our platform. For years it's been known that the public supports the Democratic positions on issues, the problem is we do nothing about those issues, and now the Republicans are stealing some of them. There's a bill in the senate now to raise the min to $15, it's not our senator who introduced it. We need to take back our issues and run with them.

All Sides has a similarity hub https://www.allsides.com/similarity that lists 700 issues we agree on to some extent or another. You can set the parameters for specific subjects and the most agreement to close to 50% or by what year the poll was taken. Sources are also rated from strong liberal to strong conservative.

We can agree amongst ourselves, and more than half of Republicans can agree with us, but if a strong enough interest group and if the wealthy don't agree, we have a problem. Also while some of our leaders are very good on these issues they are also strongly supportive of other issues that are in the 20% or less range, and it's very difficult to get anyone to support a candidate who is associated with fringe issues that no one likes.

https://www.allsides.com/similarity