On Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN’s News Central, veteran political commentator and former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd delivered a stark assessment of the Democratic Party’s political standing, arguing that former President Joe Biden’s single term in office has significantly damaged the party’s brand.
Todd explained that for the past several election cycles, swing voters — those outside the core bases of both parties who ultimately decide close contests — have not been casting ballots in favor of one party’s positive agenda but rather against the other. “I would argue we’ve had nine straight national elections where the sentiment among the swing voters in America — I’m not talking about the two partisan bases, but the swing voters that decide a very narrowly divided country — have all been essentially voting out a party, not necessarily voting in a party,” he said.
Tracing back at least to the 2010 midterms — when opposition to the Affordable Care Act fueled Republican gains — Todd said the pattern of elections driven by anti‑incumbent sentiment has continued. He suggested that Democrats should be cautious about focusing their messaging on their own policy achievements because, in his view, “they don’t have credibility with the voters” on those issues. Instead, Todd advised the party’s best path to victory would be to frame upcoming elections as a referendum on Donald Trump, Republican leadership, and the economy.
“T hey have more credibility making the case against than they will making the case for themselves,” Todd said. He noted that while current polling figures might not have an immediate major impact on the 2026 midterms, they could be a “warning sign” as the party looks toward the 2028 presidential election.
Todd didn’t hesitate to single out Biden’s impact on the Democratic brand. “There’s no doubt Joe Biden did a ton of damage to the Democratic brand with his one term as president,” he said, adding that the president’s tenure has altered public perception of the party more broadly.
He also highlighted internal tensions within the Democratic coalition. While progressive voters may turn out enthusiastically against Republican candidates in the midterms, they are not necessarily energized by the Democratic leadership or its direction. “You’ve got progressives who don’t like the direction of the party,” Todd said, and while those voters may participate in upcoming elections, their support is driven more by opposition to Republicans than enthusiasm for Democratic governance.
Todd’s remarks illustrate the challenges facing Democrats as they prepare for future election cycles and wrestle with questions about messaging, voter perception, and the legacy of the Biden presidency.
