Focus Groups: Dissatisfied Democratic Voters Hunt For Winners To Pull The Party Forward

Some Democratic voters whitethorn beryllium down connected their party, but they’re still heavy engaged successful nan 2026 elections and are prioritizing electability erstwhile reasoning astir upcoming primaries, according to attraction group conversations pinch Democrats successful Maine and Michigan.

Both states will beryllium cardinal successful this year’s conflict for nan Senate, and nan Democratic primaries location person exposed ideological and generational divides wrong nan party. But supra each else, these voters want to win.

All 13 attraction group participants, 7 from Maine and six from Michigan, said they are apt to ballot successful upcoming primaries and said they preferred a Democratic campaigner who tin hit a Republican successful November complete a campaigner who would vehemently conflict President Donald Trump.

“I deliberation nan only measurement we’re going to get Trump nether power is done nan midterm elections,” said Jennifer R., 61, who is reluctantly backing oyster husbandman Graham Platner complete Democratic Gov. Janet Mills successful nan Maine Senate primary, because she believes Platner tin conclusion longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

The attraction groups, conducted Tuesday, included 10 self-described progressives and 3 moderates. The discussions were produced by Syracuse University and nan investigation firms Engagious and Sago and observed by NBC News.

These Democrats were very dissatisfied pinch their statement broadly, describing it arsenic “weak,” “spineless,” “floundering,” “ineffective” and “distracted.”

“Have a plan,” Julie S., a 54-year-old Mainer, advised Democrats. “Whether it’s for wellness care, immoderate else, but person a scheme of what your level is different than anti-Trump.”

The panelists’ antagonistic views bespeak their party’s historically debased favorability ratings successful caller polls. Unlike a poll, which uses statistical methods to show really a larger organization feels, attraction groups excavation deeper into really a fistful of individuals consciousness astir cardinal questions facing nan country.

A successful November predetermination for Democrats runs done some nan Maine and Michigan Senate races, arsenic nan statement tries to nett 4 seats and flip nan majority. These voters viewed these races arsenic nan adjacent chance to blunt Trump’s power.

“These apt Democratic superior voters recognize they tin thwart President Trump successful 2027 only if they triumph elections this November, truthful electability is simply a cardinal facet arsenic they attack their primaries,” said Rich Thau of Engagious, who moderated nan sessions.

Backing Platner

All 7 Maine voters — six progressives and 1 mean — said they’re backing Platner successful nan June 9 primary.

“Graham Platner is Maine. He’s unsmooth astir nan edges. He isn’t polished for illustration each nan politicians that we’ve seen for astir of our lives,” said Julie S., noting that Platner was besides endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

“It’s a different Democrat and these times request personification that’s different,” said Kris K., 48, who besides said he did not needfully dislike Mills. But he did raise concerns astir nan 78-year-old governor’s age.

“I’m worried astir Mills conscionable emotion for illustration what we’ve had before, and what everyone’s had before, and conscionable not inspiring and not inspirational and is not going to do nan occupation that needs to beryllium done,” Kris said.

Still, a fewer Mainers described their support for Platner, a governmental newcomer, arsenic reluctant.

“I was leaning towards Mills. I don’t peculiarly emotion Platner. I don’t spot him completely,” said Jennifer R., nan self-described moderate. But she besides raised concerns that Mills is “way excessively old” erstwhile explaining her determination to ballot for “change” pinch Platner.

The Maine title has heated up successful caller weeks arsenic Mills launched her first attacks against Platner, highlighting past societal media posts successful which he downplayed intersexual assault. Platner, an Army and Marine veteran, made a slew of different arguable Reddit posts during a clip erstwhile he said he was struggling pinch post-traumatic accent aft serving successful Iraq and Afghanistan.

After seeing Mills’ first onslaught ad, nary of nan 7 Mainers changed their minds astir supporting Platner.

“There’s nary justifying nan statements he’s made. He’s tried to make excuses for ‘em, which I’m personally astir apt not buying overmuch of, but I conscionable request personification who’s going to win,” Edward T., 53, said. “We request to get nan Republicans nan hellhole out. They’re ruining our country, literally.”

Diana F., 52, said revelations that Platner had a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol were “the closest I person travel to not voting for Platner.” Platner said he sewage nan tattoo while drunk pinch chap Marines and said he was not alert of nan symbol’s Nazi ties astatine nan time. He has since covered it up.

“Any different signs of antisemitism, and I’m out,” Diana said.

Margaret Talev, head of Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, which helps lead nan attraction group project, noted that Collins was connected these Democratic voters’ minds moreover arsenic they see their ain statement primary.

“Many explained that they for illustration Gov. Mills, and expressed concerns astir Platner, earlier concluding Platner is champion poised to win,” Talev said.

“As for what makes a campaigner electable, youth, authenticity, an outsiders’ fearlessness astir shaking up nan position quo, and nan thought that Platner’s weathered, unpolished marque reflected Maine’s personality were each factors we heard from these voters,” Talev added.

Each of nan voters had antagonistic views of Collins, though 3 voted for her successful nan past, describing her arsenic “corrupt,” “self-serving,” “absent” and toeing nan Republican Party line.

Divided successful Michigan

Electability is besides a apical privilege for nan Democrats from Michigan arsenic they take betwixt 3 salient superior candidates: Rep. Haley Stevens, authorities Sen. Mallory McMorrow and erstwhile Wayne County wellness head Abdul El-Sayed.

Paul B., 62, said 1 of nan “primary factors” driving his determination to backmost Stevens is that “she’s sewage nan champion chance of beating” Republican Mike Rogers, nan erstwhile congressman and apt GOP nominee.

The Aug. 4 superior is still a fewer months away, and nan attraction group reflected nan unsettled race: Two of nan Michigan Democrats were undecided; 2 backed Stevens, successful portion because of her electability and acquisition successful Congress; 1 supported El-Sayed, mostly connected sanction recognition; and 1 backed McMorrow.

“She’s young. She appears to attraction astir nan moving people and nan little classes,” Lucy G., a 61-year-old self-described socialist, said of McMorrow.

The Michigan superior successful peculiar has exposed Democratic divisions connected Israel that person deepened since nan state went to warfare against Hamas successful nan Gaza Strip.

El-Sayed, who has accused Israel of perpetrating a genocide, supported nan “uncommitted” activity in nan state’s 2024 statesmanlike superior to protestation nan war. McMorrow, who also called nan conflict a genocide, has called for a two-state solution. Stevens, who has backed a ceasefire successful Gaza, has described herself arsenic “a proud, pro-Israel Democrat.”

Even arsenic divides complete Israel have played retired successful different Democratic primaries, nan Michigan Democrats who participated successful nan attraction group said nan rumor would not impact their votes successful nan Senate contest.

The panelists’ answers reflected nan broader souring of Democrats connected Israel and rising sympathies for nan Palestinians since nan warfare began.

Stevens protagonist Paul B. called Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught connected Israel “horrible” but blasted nan Israeli consequence arsenic “committing genocide successful nan sanction of defense.”

But Paul B. distinguished betwixt nan Israeli authorities and Israelis broadly, suggesting Israelis aren’t being adequately represented by their leaders.

“I’m conscionable going to make nan affinity nan aforesaid measurement pinch nan United States — 4 years, possibly we were viewed overmuch much positively. [Now,] we’re viewed overmuch much negatively worldwide, but that shouldn’t bespeak backmost connected nan group successful nan state itself,” he said.

Down connected Trump

Unsurprisingly, these voters were down connected Trump — not conscionable personally, but erstwhile it comes to cardinal issues successful their lives.

A fistful said nan warfare pinch Iran was their apical concern. All of them opposed Trump’s launching nan subject action, arguing that America should beryllium much focused connected issues astatine location and raising fears astir different lengthy subject quagmire. The Maine sheet met arsenic Trump announced a two-week ceasefire pinch Iran Tuesday night, and nan Michigan sheet took spot soon after.

“[Trump] said nary much wars,” Cindy M., a 60-year-old Michigander, said, noting that nan Trump management claimed it destroyed Iran’s atomic capabilities successful strikes past year. “Why are we successful location then?”

The immense mostly of nan respondents supported instantly ending America’s subject action successful Iran, moreover if that risked jeopardizing America’s subject goals aliases perchance strengthening Iran.

Many panelists invoked nan rising value of lipid and gasoline arsenic portion of their vexation pinch nan warfare arsenic they broadly criticized Trump’s handling of nan economy, which they framed arsenic erratic, and connected it to their ain lives.

“I’m much anxious astir a recession happening. I’m anxious astir my 401(k) worth going down arsenic I’m getting person to status age,” Bill S., a 56-year-old from Michigan, said.

Lucy, different Michigan panelist, mentioned really her “dear friend” utilized to thrust 30 miles to return her to luncheon each week, but rising state prices meant less lunches.

Some of their projected economical solutions echoed Trump’s ain “America First” promises that they felt had not been kept, including ending nan warfare pinch Iran and expanding dependence connected American equipment and resources.

The panelists sharply criticized Trump’s handling of immigration, peculiarly Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s tactics. As nan debate complete ICE’s destiny plays out successful key superior elections crossed nan country, nan panelists were divided.

Seven wanted to spot ICE reformed.

“I’m not opposed to nan migration argumentation and ICE because different presidents person done it arsenic well. What I’m opposed to is really it was implemented,” 47-year-old Todd G. from Maine said.

Six called for ICE to beryllium flat-out abolished.

“This isn’t expected to beryllium who America is. This isn’t what he said it was going to be. He’s sewage his ain Gestapo retired connected nan streets — terrorizing people, sidesplitting group successful a mates instances. That’s not what America is. We’re expected to judge immigrants,” Edward, from Maine, said.