Election Aftershock: Takeaways & Turning Points

What did two of the most insightful strategists have to say about the MAJOR SHIFTS in U.S. politics?

Republican strategist Alex Castellanos described the "painful demise of two old political parties," as the Republican Party transitions into a populist, working-class movement and solidifies the Trump coalition as a lasting force.

Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik highlighted the challenges facing Democrats, noting “It was a well run campaign, so I don't want to anyway denigrate that. But I think that basically Republicans won for four main reasons. And it wasn't Trump, it's almost in spite of Trump….” Watch now to hear the rest!

Here are more takeaways from this insightful discussion, which you can watch below. Stay tuned for more engaging content from The Common Good!

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SOME HIGHLIGHTS

What’s going on with the Party system?

"When you lose the center, you're often just left with the extreme. And that happened to Republicans when we drained all the juice out of the Reagan coalition. I think the Democrats are now in the same spot." -Alex Castellanos

"Right now, the Democratic Party is isolated and considered culturally elite, big spenders, and not in touch with the people in the countryside. Ultimately, the only way we're going to fix that is to run people in America who are from America, who represent in their real lives the center of this country." -Doug Sosnik

How has the 2024 election changed political parties in America?

“What was just a man became a movement. I think this election, what was just Donald Trump, got some breadth and it became something that I think will live after Trump. The Trump coalition, particularly among working-class voters, grew stronger." -Alex Castellanos

"The Democrats no longer have control of their political destiny. Trump’s victory was all-encompassing... 92% of the counties in America, he ran with stronger performance in 2024 compared to 2020…Trump improved his standing in all 50 states." -Doug Sosnik

What did the strategies of the Republican and Democratic parties tell us in the 2024 election?

"For nine years now, the Democratic Party has stood for nothing other than beating Trump. That’s been the only organizing principle of the party. When you ask a Democrat who you are, what you're for, the answer is, 'We're against Trump.'” -Doug Sosnik

What about the voters? How do they feel about American politics today?

"We’re governing ourselves in very old ways. Big old, top-down, industrial-age machine-like government." -Alex Castellanos

"People feel like the system is corrupt, and it is set up to screw them. Trump is not the cause of what’s happening in America; he’s the symptom of it." -Doug Sosnik

About Our Speaker’s

Doug Sosnik is a highly regarded Democratic strategist, “famed in Washington circles for his closely held, big-think memos on the state of American politics.” As one of President Bill Clinton’s closest advisors, Sosnik played a pivotal role in Clinton’s against-the-odds landslide reelection in 1996, serving in key positions including Senior Aide and White House Political Director.

With decades of experience at the nexus of politics, policy, and communication, Sosnik has guided senators, governors, Fortune 100 companies, leading foundations, and universities through complex challenges. Before his impactful tenure in the White House, he served as Chief of Staff to Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, cementing his reputation as a go-to strategist and trusted insider in the highest echelons of power.

Alex Castellanos is a powerhouse in Republican strategy and media consulting, credited with the discovery of the political “soccer mom,” which “caught on almost overnight” as the iconic prototypical swing voter, and hailed as the “father of the attack ad.” He is famed for shaping seven U.S. presidential campaigns, including Bush-Cheney 2004, Romney for President, and McCain’s Ad Council, and has been a decisive force behind the election of nine U.S. Senators and six Governors.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Castellanos’ journey is as compelling as his career. His family fled Castro’s regime with one suitcase and eleven dollars, forging a new life in America. A fluent Spanish and English speaker and a University of North Carolina scholar, he is a sought-after political speaker and frequent CNN commentator.