The Democrats are back… but will it last?

18 snips

Nov 6, 2025

Jim Messina, an experienced political strategist and former deputy chief of staff to Barack Obama, shares his insights on the recent Democratic victories. He explores how Trump's low approval ratings influenced these wins and discusses shifting voter dynamics among young and Latino populations. Messina warns that while these triumphs are promising, they don't necessarily repair the party's broader brand issues. He emphasizes the importance of targeting varied candidates in challenging districts and highlights the potential impact of Gavin Newsom's redistricting efforts.

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ANECDOTE

Hosts’ Surprise At PSC Importance

Justin admitted he was fascinated by the Georgia Public Service Commission despite not knowing it existed before.
The hosts used Steve Bannon's reaction to highlight how significant the PSC wins were politically.

ANECDOTE

Messina's Immediate Reaction

Jim Messina reflected from Montana that he felt better after the election results than on Monday.
He described the wins as better than even the brightest predictions.

INSIGHT

Turnout Shapes Voter Coalitions

Latino and young voter behaviour in off-year contests is volatile and turnout-dependent.
Messina cautioned that off-year wins may not replicate in high-turnout midterms or presidential elections.

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For the first time since the presidential election there is renewed optimism among Democrats after a big election night on Tuesday. Alongside Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York and the governor races in New Jersey and West Virginia, the party also won important - albeit less glamorous - races in Pennsylvania and Georgia.

In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Sarah unpack how and where the Democrats won, and what it means for the party and next year’s midterm elections.

For Republicans, the inquest has already begun into a bruising night for the party that has raised fears ahead of the 2026 midterms and the party’s congressional majority. Donald Trump is blaming poor results on the ongoing government shutdown and his name not being on the ballot.

And we’re joined by Jim Messina, a Democrat strategist and former deputy chief of staff to Barack Obama. He gives his take on what he thinks lies behind Tuesday’s wins, what he thinks the party has learned since 2024 and whether he agrees with Prop 50 - the redistricting measures passed in California to redraw the state’s political lines to favour Democrats.

HOSTS: * Sarah Smith, North America editor * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST:

* Jim Messina, Former deputy chief of staff to Barack Obama

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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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