In a stunning critique published by The New York Times, longtime Democratic strategist James Carville admitted what many Americans already suspect: the Democratic Party is in complete disarray.
Carville, who helped engineer Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential win and was a key figure in Barack Obama’s rise, didn’t hold back. He described today’s Democrat coalition as:
“Constipated. Leaderless. Confused. A cracked-out clown car. Divided.”
“The truth is, they’re not wrong: The Democratic Party is in shambles.”
Internal War Between Radicals and Moderates
According to Carville, the Democrats are now split between two factions:
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An older, establishment wing clinging to traditional liberal values
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A younger, far-left bloc increasingly defined by radical progressivism, anti-Israel sentiment, and demands for extreme policy shifts
“We are divided along ideological lines,” Carville wrote, citing everything from the Israel-Hamas conflict to Medicare for All battles as key rifts.
“A Civilized Civil War”
Carville warned that the party is headed for what he called a “civilized civil war”, and that it may be necessary and inevitable.
“It’s necessary to have it. It’s even more necessary to delay it,” he said.
His solution? Wait until after the 2026 midterms and hope a “savior” candidate emerges in 2028—comparing the potential figure to Clinton in ’92 or Obama in ’08.
Until then, Carville argued, the party must unify solely around opposing Donald Trump and Republicans.
Party of “Anti-Trump” Has No Plan
That’s where even many Democrats are skeptical.
The party has made anti-Trump rhetoric its central rallying cry since 2016—but that tactic has failed to stop Trump’s momentum, particularly as his popularity has grown post-2024.
Carville’s piece admits as much, indirectly conceding that the Democrats have no clear leader, no message beyond opposition, and no path forward unless a political miracle arrives in 2028.
A Party Without a Future?
With no control of Congress, a fractured base, and a disgraced former president in Joe Biden, the Democratic Party appears to be rudderless and reactionary, hoping that another Obama-style figure will rescue it from collapse.
Until then, voters can expect more of the same: division, infighting, and anti-Trump attacks—a strategy that hasn’t worked in years, and according to Carville, is unlikely to inspire voters in 2026 or beyond.
