Winning voters, not just elections

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OPINION – After California’s Prop 50 election and elections across the country, pundits scrambled to give their hot takes on what the results meant, especially in terms of which party now has greater support and momentum entering a primary election year. But framing 2025’s elections through the lens of the two major political parties misses the main story– the voters.

If the goal in 2026 is to win and serve Californians, party leaders must ditch their outdated and inept playbook. The only way forward is to value every voter and take no voter for granted.

Last fall, Courage California organized a coalition of over 30 progressive organizations in support of the redistricting ballot measure to ensure our state’s diverse communities received the special election voter resources they needed, in the ways they needed. And it worked. Democratic leaders, take heed and stop playing lazy partisan politics and taking voters for granted. Gone are the days of simply catering to poll numbers. As we face a challenging year of elections and redrawn congressional districts, political and elected leaders must display genuine leadership based on fundamental values and champion progressive policies that truly address our most significant problems, rather than patching what’s broken–leaving it for the next person.

A growing number of voters don’t trust Republicans, Democrats, or the two-party system, for good reason. Party leadership is dominated by establishment consultants and politicians who live in insulated echo chambers, competing for dirty money. Polling has replaced in-depth engagement with voters. Parties act as though they are entitled to votes, treat voters like they are parts of a horse trade, and voters see right through it.

We have seen this confirmed repeatedly in the statewide voter research conducted by Courage California, and in polls or surveys willing to dig deeper than the partisan horse race. Voters care about the issues and believe in voting as a meaningful act. They want elected leaders to work together on data-backed solutions (not concepts) and bolder policies to tackle their top concerns. Instead, 2025 was a tumultuous year in which voters had a front-row seat to our elected leaders prioritizing tax cuts, lining the pockets of wealthy donors, and pushing sensational partisan propaganda at every opportunity. Last year, party billionaires and corrupt leaders were coddled at the expense of the American people.

What won so many Democrats their 2025 elections in November, including California’s redistricting ballot measure, wasn’t the appeal of the party. The elections were an outlet for the outrage voters across the nation felt about the reckless and destructive leadership of President Trump, his administration, and his allies. Pair that with encouraging Democratic candidates and campaigns that spoke directly to voters, understood the realities of their constituents, offered tangible solutions and contrasts, and rejected the moderate-Democrat playbook. Just as importantly, community organizers showed up in droves to support these campaigns because it was understood we’re part of something bigger than any one candidate, race, or party.

As we enter a midterm election year, it can’t be said enough–value every voter and take no voter for granted. When Courage California and our partners prioritized the communities and regions where eligible voters are often overlooked and undervalued, whether because the region leans in a particular direction or has historically low voter turnout, the special election result spoke for itself. According to a Prop 50 exit poll, 18- to 29-year-olds and Latinos overwhelmingly voted yes. Even historically conservative Imperial County turned out to vote for Prop 50!

It is unmistakable that we are not in a “politics as usual” time, and superficial run-of-the-mill party playbooks need to be abandoned in favor of an approach that values all voters and our communities. Or–continue doing what bystandards do best, chase low-hanging fruit votes and lose.

To our 2026 party leaders, whether under the dome or in the third house, enjoy your welcome back bashes and conventions–but do so with the understanding that we, the voters, are what make this democracy great, and we are worth fighting for.

Irene Kao is Executive Director at Courage California and a longtime progressive advocate residing in Oakland, California.