US Democrats face post-election reckoning

Significance The country’s slight but distinct rightward shift, which has led to the Republicans regaining the Senate and most likely the House, suggests that a Democratic focus on the top of the ticket without understanding the underlying changes to US politics will not mend a fraying party. Impacts Voters across all ethnic groups are becoming less homogenous and more driven by issues than ethnic identity. In populist eras, incumbency becomes a burden rather than a benefit because grievance is the underlying driver of change. Trump’s populist vision has yet to reach its zenith, but the current Democratic coalition is nearing the end of its life cycle.