I read an article where the author claimed that Democrats screed about “democracy is on the ballot” fell short. I disagreed. Democracy was indeed on the ballot in 2024, just not in the way Democrats intended.
Democrats plastered the phrase across ads, speeches, and campaign rallies. But their actions told a very different story. As Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) insisted they were the stewards of democratic ideals, they sabotaged their own processes. They silenced dissenters, and manipulated election mechanisms in ways that left even their own base skeptical. Ironically, this made their loss to Donald Trump not only inevitable, but richly poetic.
Democracy by Any Means Necessary?
The Democrats’ rallying cry of “saving democracy” was undermined from the start. Shielding Joe Biden from primary challengers was their first move, a tactic that looked more like damage control than democratic engagement. Prominent figures like Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Marianne Williamson openly criticized this strategy. They sounded the alarm, warning that Biden’s isolation from scrutiny would backfire. The DNC then doubled down by canceling the Florida primary outright and attempting similar maneuvers in Wisconsin, only to be blocked by the courts.
When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dared to challenge the Democratic establishment, they deployed an entire “war room” to discredit him. Ultimately, they not only pushed him out of the race as a Democrat, but they push him out of the party altogether.
Meanwhile, Harris—who dropped out of the 2020 race without earning a single vote—was anointed as the party’s new figurehead once Biden became too much of a liability. Their so-called defense of democracy had all the hallmarks of a monarchy, minus the pageantry.
Democracy for Us, Not for You
It wasn’t just presidential politics where the Democrats’ hypocrisy shone. In multiple states, they fought tooth and nail against ballot measures aimed at expanding voter participation. Reforms in Arizona, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Nevada, and South Dakota sought to give independent voters a voice in primary elections. But the Democrats actively campaigned against these reforms. The message was clear: democracy is fine as long as it serves our interests.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. For years, the DNC has resisted primary election reform, even in states where it could strengthen democratic processes. In places like California and Washington, where voters implemented open primaries, the party has lobbied to return to exclusionary systems. The irony? The party that brands itself as the champion of democracy consistently works to suppress it when it threatens their grip on power.
The 14th Amendment Fiasco
As the general election approached, Democrats took their anti-democratic antics to new heights. In states like Colorado and Michigan, they pursued legal battles to bar Trump from the ballot, citing the 14th Amendment’s clause against aiding an “insurrection.” It was a novel—and transparently desperate—interpretation of constitutional law. Voters saw it for what it was: a last-ditch attempt to win by disqualification rather than persuasion.
This legal gambit didn’t just fail; it galvanized the Trump base and alienated moderate voters. Americans may have disagreements about Trump, but they overwhelmingly rejected the notion that the electoral process should be circumvented to deny voters their choice.
When Hypocrisy Meets Reality
Democracy wasn’t just on the ballot—it was the ballot. And voters delivered a resounding verdict: they want leadership that respects the process, not a party that manipulates it. While Democrats lamented their loss, leaders like Nancy Pelosi now bemoan the very lack of openness they orchestrated. It’s a convenient pivot, but one that smacks of opportunism, rather than genuine reflection.
The broader issue here isn’t just that the Democratic Party lost—it’s that they lost credibility. For years, they’ve positioned themselves as defenders of democracy while engaging in the very behaviors they accuse Republicans of: voter suppression, exclusionary tactics, and backroom deals. This hypocrisy has finally caught up with them, and voters are no longer buying what they’re selling.
A Lesson in True Democracy
Americans care deeply about democracy, despite what pundits might suggest. But they won’t be lectured by a party that cancels primaries, silences challengers, and manipulates election systems. In 2024, voters made it clear that they’re tired of being told what democracy looks like by Leftist demons who have no intent of practicing it.
As Democrats process their historic loss, they have a choice to make. They can continue down the path of hypocrisy, or they can take a hard look at their own undemocratic tendencies and work to rebuild trust. Either way, democracy has spoken—and it’s Trump who emerged as its unlikely standard-bearer.
