In a moment that captures the uneasy reckoning within the Democratic Party, Florida fundraiser John Morgan offered a blunt assessment of President-elect Trump’s political prowess, calling him a “f-ing genius.” Morgan, a Biden ally considering a run for Florida governor as an independent under the “Capitalist Party,” acknowledged Trump’s unique ability to tap into populist anger and reshape the Republican Party’s base.
“I don’t know if Trump is a stable genius, but he’s a f-ing genius,” Morgan said, adding, “He tapped into something the Republicans never saw, which was anger and populism on that side.”
Morgan’s comments come as many Democrats reevaluate their political labels. A Politico report highlighted figures like Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who has distanced himself from the Democratic label, and independent senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Duggan lamented the polarization associated with party politics, noting, “If you call yourself a Democrat, all the Republicans automatically line up against it. You call yourself a Republican, all the Democrats automatically line up against it.”
Trump’s “genius” was on full display in the 2024 election, where he made significant inroads with traditionally Democratic constituencies. According to the Associated Press, Trump won 43% of the overall Latino vote, an eight-point increase from 2020, and nearly half of Latino men voted for him. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference attributed this shift to Trump’s stance on immigration. “Guess what? We’re not [in favor of open borders]. And we proved it that we’re not. We want people to come here legally,” Rodriguez said.
The president-elect also saw gains among young Black men, doubling his support compared to 2020. About 3 in 10 Black men under 45 voted for Trump, highlighting his ability to fracture key Democratic voting blocs. Trump’s appeal also extended to unmarried women, with more supporting him in 2024 than in the previous election, despite predictions of a widening gender gap.
The Democratic Party’s internal divisions and Trump’s expanding coalition have created an undeniable political shift. Figures like Morgan, Duggan, and others questioning their allegiance to the Democratic Party reflect a broader struggle to adapt to Trump’s transformative impact on the American political landscape. Whether Democrats can counter Trump’s populist momentum remains a pressing challenge.
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