"After losing big in 2024, Democrats promised a digital reckoning. But 12 months out from that devastating slate of losses, Democratic digital programs are still plagued by the same issues that doomed them last year. Despite millions of dollars in influencer investments and "lessons learned" memos, party insiders say Democrats are still stuck running social media programs that strive for authenticity, but often clash with the party's unrelenting desire to maintain control."
""I can't, for the life of me, figure out why we are still so rigid and moderating everything when we have nothing to lose for the first time," says one Democratic digital strategist, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "All of the threats of fascism and right wing takeover. It's all here." This aversion to risk has made it difficult for Democrats to innovate."
Democrats suffered major losses in 2024 and pledged a digital overhaul. A year later, digital programs continue to suffer the same structural problems, including overcontrol and risk aversion. Millions were spent on influencers and internal "lessons learned" memos, but social media teams still prioritize authenticity while tightly managing content. Party leadership's insistence on moderation clashes with experimentation, limiting creative approaches. New initiatives such as the DNC's Daily Blueprint YouTube show have attracted minimal viewership. High-production videos from senior figures have failed to reach beyond Washington, D.C., and strategists say reluctance to take creative risks prevents substantive digital innovation.
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