Democrats are struggling to unify and craft a winning message for the upcoming midterms, while openly criticizing President Biden's performance and reelection bid, reflecting internal divisions and doubts about his leadership.
The Democratic National Committee voted against a resolution calling for an arms ban to Israel amid internal party debates over U.S. support for Israel in Gaza, with leadership favoring unity and a ceasefire instead of the proposed arms ban, despite significant opposition from younger party members and polls showing public dissent.
Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona visited Iowa to share his successful campaign strategies and encourage Democrats to broaden their outreach, amid a challenging political landscape and internal party divisions, aiming to energize the party for upcoming midterms and future elections.
Former President Barack Obama urged Democrats to 'toughen up' and speak out more against Trump and his policies, criticizing party leaders for being too timid and emphasizing the need for tangible results to win elections.
The Republican Party, once divided over Donald Trump's polarizing influence, has now unified behind him at the national convention in Milwaukee. Even Trump's primary rival, Nikki Haley, endorsed his leadership, signaling a significant shift in party dynamics and confidence heading into the 2024 presidential race.
At the Republican National Convention, Nikki Haley, who previously criticized Donald Trump during the 2024 primary, endorsed him and called for party unity. Despite her past remarks about Trump's behavior and mental fitness, Haley emphasized the need for a unified Republican Party to counter the Democrats. Her speech aimed to rally skeptical voters and consolidate support for Trump, especially after recent concerns about President Biden's mental fitness and an assassination attempt on Trump.
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, former President Donald Trump welcomed former rivals like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who endorsed him and emphasized party unity. Despite past tensions, speakers including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio received enthusiastic support, while the event also highlighted themes of safety and criticism of President Joe Biden. The convention aimed to present a united GOP front, with multiple speakers addressing recent events and rallying support for Trump.
The Republican Party, traditionally known for its "fall in line" approach to presidential nominations, is showing unprecedented unity and enthusiasm at the Milwaukee convention, particularly in support of Donald Trump. This contrasts sharply with the Democratic Party, which is struggling to rally behind President Joe Biden. The GOP's current atmosphere is festive and confident, while Democrats face internal divisions and a lack of passionate support for their presumptive nominee.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who previously challenged Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, will speak at the Republican National Convention despite earlier plans not to attend. Haley, who has had a contentious relationship with Trump, recently instructed her delegates to support him, calling for party unity. This comes after a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump and as Trump announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential pick.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is urging Republicans to refrain from challenging sitting GOP lawmakers in contentious primaries in order to minimize party divisions. Johnson emphasized the unproductivity and divisiveness of member-on-member action in primaries, as the GOP faces legislative challenges and aims to secure re-election. He is determined to maintain leadership within the House GOP, focusing on laying important groundwork for future work.
Several senior House Republicans, including Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, Problem Solvers Caucus co-Chair Brian Fitzpatrick, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Chip Roy, and GOP Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, have yet to endorse former President Trump for the 2024 presidential race despite growing pressure for party unity. While some have not publicly weighed in, others have expressed reservations or previously supported different candidates, reflecting the ongoing divisions within the GOP.
Michigan Republican Party chair Kristina Karamo expressed her commitment to bringing together different factions within the party, but stated that it is not her responsibility to ensure unity if some individuals refuse to participate.
The New York Republicans are facing difficulties in finding a replacement for expelled congressman George Santos. The selection process for a candidate in the special election has been marred by revelations about top contenders, including one who was a registered Democrat, another who was convicted for participating in the Capitol riot, and a former state assemblyman with potentially damaging ties to Santos. The torrent of revelations has undermined the party's message of order and unity, leading to concerns that the party is playing into the hands of Democrats. However, some argue that the mudslinging could help inoculate the eventual Republican nominee against weaknesses by the time of the special election.
Former President Barack Obama has been holding meetings with House Democrats, including both progressive and moderate members, in an effort to keep current with his party's rising stars. The meetings were designed for Obama to counsel lawmakers, something he rarely did when he was president. While Obama has been careful to avoid criticizing President Joe Biden, some attendees feel that he could help Democrats by being more of a political presence and articulating the stakes, as he did memorably in last year's midterms.
Despite concerns about his age and middling approval ratings, President Biden has won the full support of his party as he prepares to formally announce his 2024 re-election campaign. No serious primary challenger has emerged, and would-be rivals have stayed on the sidelines. Democrats yearn for a fresh face in 2024, but there is no one else. The early entry of Donald Trump into the race has caused the party to rally behind Biden, and the advantages of holding the White House make any challenge more likely to bruise than best him.