Democrats got wiped out in 2004. This is what they did next.

The last time Democrats lost the popular vote spurred a reckoning in 2004 , the party lost a presidential election to George W. Bush for a second time.

In 2024 , life as a Democrat is pretty bleak in many of the same ways it was two decades ago .

Democrats are engaging in what can be generously viewed as introspection (or, less generously, a “circular firing squad”).

Hillary Clinton ran up the popular vote total after winning big in solidly blue states, but she got to serve as president for exactly zero days .

In 2004 , Democrats didn’t have a response to the rise of the right-wing blog Drudge Report and Fox News’s consolidation around Republicans .

Democrats sought to reevaluate their overall messaging strategy.

In 2024 , Democrats were again outflanked by a new Republican media machine — this time, including the likes of Joe Rogan .

The conditions that would collapse Bush ’s support in his second term were already in place when he won reelection, Hemmer said.

So how Democrats do in 2026 , 2028 , and beyond will likely have a lot to do with Trump 's performance.

Preliminary exit polls suggest Trump is unpopular, his proposed tariffs could be disastrous for the economy.