In its 250th year, American democracy is in peril. Many of us point to Donald Trump’s attacks on the rule of law, his defiance of congressional authority, and his efforts to undermine election integrity. These may be valid concerns, but there is a lurking illness in the body politic that has caused the withering of American democracy over the last 60 years, bringing us to this moment. That illness is the turn against institutions, and particularly parties, and an embrace of an individualistic conception of politics. Counterintuitive as it may sound, I want to make the case that the long-term solution to our political ills isn’t less partisanship — it’s more.
Consider the state of the parties today — here in true blue Massachusetts, only about 25% of voters are registered as Democrats. The majority of Massachusetts voters enroll as non-partisan independents. And the majority of those who identify with a party do not participate in their chosen party in any meaningful way. The vast majority of citizens are unaware of how the parties function, the planks in the party’s platform, or that there is a local party committee in their town, even though committee membership is elected every four years on the presidential primary ballot.
It wasn’t always this way. Until the reforms instituted in the wake of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, parties were powerful. Reformers began de-institutionalizing the system by creating modern primaries, taking nominee selection out of party hands and placing it directly with voters. States like Michigan even established open primaries, decoupling the party from candidate selection entirely. Here in Massachusetts, we haven’t gone quite that far — allowing independents to vote in whichever primary they choose — but that still leaves political parties seemingly superfluous.
Parties play an important role in connecting voters to their politicians, providing information about the issues and candidates of the day, and creating a space for voters to deliberate together about their shared priorities. Americans’ current distrust of institutions deprives our democracy of this key pillar and has led to a politics dominated by individuals with a cult of personality and their wealthy donors. Ironically, the response of many has been to blame the parties, becoming further alienated and only deepening the crisis.
The problem with an individualistic model of politics is that it places immense informational demands on everyday voters. We have much to debate about, from ballot initiatives to who should represent us on the Governor’s Council. We need parties as a space where we can learn what we need to know in order to participate effectively. The individualistic model leads to a political landscape dominated by those with the most time, energy, and education to take on the informational burdens alone, and we must reject it. Instead, to build a more democratic future, we must rebuild a civic society rooted in the collective action of the people. We must return to party participation as an anchor of our democracy. Ultimately, politics is a social endeavor, not something that can be effectively done alone. Studies show that people are more likely to vote if their neighbors vote, and it is likely the same is true for other forms of political engagement.
So, let’s all make a commitment to be more partisan and rebuild American democracy together. Register to vote, designate a party, and reach out to your local party committee to see how you can get involved. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to know your neighbors and work together in the deliberative work that democracy is all about. The midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and there is a lot on the ballot here in Massachusetts and across the nation. Locally, we have nine(!) ballot questions, and races ranging from U.S. senator and governor to state representative. It’s a lot to take in, and your local party committee is a great place to learn about it all and meet the candidates face-to-face.
As chair of the Amherst Democratic Town Committee, I encourage registered Democrats in Amherst to join us. Email AmherstMADemocrats@gmail.com to find out when our next meeting is — we’d love to have you in the room.
Dan Ordorica lives in Amherst.