Staff Reports
Senator Adam Schiff, once a notorious critic of Donald Trump, seems to be shifting gears following the recent electoral triumph of the president-elect. During Trump’s first term, Schiff made quite the name for himself as a rabid opponent, even spearheading the much-derided impeachment inquiry aimed at the former president. However, with the voters, especially in his own home state of California, overwhelmingly supporting Trump’s reelection campaign, Schiff is apparently taking a hard look in the mirror.
After a long stint as a staunch ally of Vice President Kamala Harris in opposing Trump, the winds of political change are causing Schiff to reconsider his anti-Trump stance. Despite previously praising Harris’s campaign as “terrific,” reality has crept in, and Schiff is now realizing that hit pieces and hissy fits aren’t winning back those working-class voters who have felt ignored and overlooked by the Democrats. According to political analysts, Schiff’s change in tone appears to be his attempt to tap into the American sentiment that hard work must lead to a decent living—something many believe the Democratic Party has neglected.
Admitting the embarrassing defeat, Schiff has grasped the fact that a surprising number of California’s working-class voters threw their support behind Trump, as they resonated with his message on inflation and affordability. This shift is indicative of a broader trend where the Republican Party is redefining itself as the true home of the working class, a title that the Democrats may want to reflect on during their next strategy meeting. Schiff’s acknowledgment of the hard realities these voters face suggests he is not the only liberal out of touch with the sentiments of the American populace.
As the election fallout continues, political experts have noted that Trump has notably improved his standing among voters making less than $50,000 a year and even gained substantial ground in union households in California. This turns the narrative on its head, demonstrating that working-class concerns are being largely ignored by the Democrats, who have been too busy pushing identity politics and climate agendas to listen.
Adam Schiff signals pivot to economy from Trump foe after big losses for Democrats https://t.co/3ySosZUkPc
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 4, 2024
As Schiff contemplates a new approach, other California Democrats are scrambling to rework their strategies. The winds of change have blown in predictions of an impending shift in Democratic rhetoric, with officials like Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas expressing an urgent need to address affordability issues that plague the state. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom, who had previously crafted a “Trump-proof” agenda, seems to have found a sliver of bipartisan rhetoric, pledging to work with Trump on behalf of Californians, all while still keeping his shots ready for tarring the administration when it suits him.
With a major rethink on the horizon for Democrats in California, it seems they might finally realize that attacking Trump nonstop hasn’t captured the hearts and minds of the voters like they once believed. If they want to avoid becoming an endangered species in the world of politics, addressing the real concerns of working-class Americans—concerns that the Republican Party is nailing to the wall—is a necessity. It’s a bitter pill for Schiff and his colleagues to swallow, but the reality is that Americans are tired of empty promises and are clamoring for leaders who genuinely understand what it means to struggle.
