The Democratic party should start presidential primary debates in June.

[Yavin4]

Yes, June. June 2025. Putting on early primary debates wouldn't cost any money to any campaign. It's a great way to introduce candidates to voters. Also, a great way to establish the party away from Trump. The debate should be open to all who want to participate. The party should do polls to limit the number of candidates.

The debates can continue throughout the summer. Do one once a month in a different state. Keep doing this until 2028.

[walkingman]

1. I think that is a great idea.

[BoRaGard]

2. I think it's debateable

[Ars Longa]

42. Yes...This!!

(If we all remember, Trump started right away and was constantly in the media!)

[hlthe2b]

3. Honestly, (and unbelievably) I think this is not crazy. Trump got wall-to-wall coverage for every damned

thing he did, said and thought for 4 years. Granted a lot of that was his "criming" and our feeble attempts to hold him accountable, but it meant he was on the minds of Americans for 4 years. Even if a lot of that attention was bad. It didn't' matter.

But, regardless, potential Dem Presidential candidates need to start talking and taking on this administration--objectively destroying them on their attempts to dismantle the social safety net and their lies--while likewise getting name recognition for just that.

[Alice B.]

4. If TFG can spend four years campaigning, so should we...

But this requires a unity I’m terrified we’ll never achieve.

[Marthe48]

16. At least our candidates won't be campaigning to avoid jail

n/t

[0rganism]

38. That depends entirely on the whims of Orange Julius Caesar

If his majesty's bowels act up overnight, maybe it's time for another purge.

The coming years won't be like anything we've seen before. We're about to learn how much we really had to lose.

[JI7]

5. So start the infighting before the midterms

how about focusing on the elections that will come up ?

[DeepWinter]

6. That

and voter burnout 4 years before the election.

[Yavin4]

8. Were Trump voters burned out from 2021-2024?

All he did was campaign for four years, and look at the Republicans now. The lesson is that people want to hear from and engage with their elected leaders even in off years.

If the Democrats only talk to voters in the Fall of an election year, don't be mad if they tune you out.

[JI7]

9. Trump didn't participate in primary debates

[Fiendish Thingy]

37. No, but Dem voters were

Millions fewer Biden 2020 voters went to the polls in 2024.

[Yavin4]

7. Infighting early on is not a bad thing.

One, it helps to promote the party. Two, getting all of the bad blood out of the way early allows time for the wounds to heal. Three, what better way to promote the mid term elections than free media talking about a presidential debate in your state.

[JI7]

11. The media isn't going to promote anything other than put things in a bad light

and you are totally ignoring the midterms.

[Fiendish Thingy]

36. Infighting only feeds the "Dems in disarray!" Narrative

And gives the media an excuse to write about the Trump administration as competent and disciplined.

[betsuni]

41. Democrat-bashing. Establishment vs anti-establishment, evil centrist/moderate vs purity progressive, age wars,

digging up and creating fake scandals from the past and insult nicknames, elite elite elite elite, whining about being anointed by the establishment and corrupt rigging and money (OMG a fundraiser in a WINE CAVE??????? *sets hair on fire*). All that crap is old stupid and annoying. But helps get Republicans elected, that's the goal.

[JI7]

43. Exactly, even the short period where Harris was vetting the VP running mates

resulted in negative posts of possible picks. And that decision was only up to her and at a time when we should have been prepared to back whoever she picked.

And then there will be all the fake groups making their demands.

There is no way I want to start on that right now.

[FSogol]

10. Disagree. it is way too early. We need to win the next race, not fight about the last couple we lost. n/t

[Yavin4]

13. No. It's not early at all.

We have a lame duck president of the opposition party. Additionally, the Democrats are out of power entirely. We have nothing else to do other than talk to the American people directly. Presidential debates are one the best political communication methods.

[Fiendish Thingy]

35. Except in the last 60 days before an election, debates are a terrible communication tool

Did you watch any of the debates with 10+ candidates on stage?

There’s only time for zingers and gaffes, not substantive exchange of ideas.

[dutch777]

19. Concur w the disagreement. 1. Adjust platform 2. Get great candidates for House/Senate 3. Win House and Senate 2026

At best this monthly Dem Prez primary debate would be a stunt ignored by most voters. At worst it could really turn even more people away from Dems due to too much noise. Adjust platform priorities and messaging and have our public facing folks voice that. At all opportunities point out the key Trump promises he is not even addressing with a real plan-- inflation, domestic terrorism, supporting US manufacturing (other than by tariffs), containing bird flu, etc. Look at the most successful 2024 Dem House/Senate candidates that ran in toss up or Trumpist districts but one and find the "secret sauce". Seek out highly viable candidates for 2026 House/Senate runs. Make sure local and state Dem party orgs are staffed and working to a plan that is not just the old boys club BS. Basically, keep and strengthen Dem relevance to the voters.

[Scipio Africanus]

12. Risk of the public tuning them out this early

I like the idea of starting dialogue in order to counter what Trump will do. But I suspect some of the stronger candidates won't emerge until after the midterms.

[Happy Hoosier]

14. Not a fan of that.... BUT.....

I do think we need a deisgnated "Shadow government" that will be on all the shows criticizing Trump every step of the way. We need a constant narrative how Trump is fucking up. ALL the time.

[niyad]

34. Do you actually think that the reichwing corporate media whores will

give Dems the same access and time as the fascists they have been drooling over all these years?

[JI7]

15. What it will do is begin the fundraising process earlier also

[Marthe48]

18. I don't think it fundraising ever stops

It might slow down a little

[Marthe48]

17. It's a good idea

All Dems that will be targeted by traitor and goons should announce their campaigns right now, so that they can't be arrested for crimes, tried, convicted and jailed by the court system because they are active candidates.

Worked like a charm for traitor.

I'm only being a little sarcastic. traitor actually committed crimes, while any Dems arrested will be victims of an out-of-control megalomaniac.

[0rganism]

39. Agree -- campaigning might be the only thing that keeps Dems out of prison

We've never lived through the kind of whimsical brutality that's heading our way.

[Blue_Tires]

20. Voters are already fatigued from 2024

And the media wouldn't even care unless we had some bullshit celebrity anti-candidates.

Besides, right now the white house doesn't matter anywhere NEAR as much as the midterm elections in 2 years... That's what we need to focus on.

[SheilaAnn]

21. I'm still burned out from th '24 election and want nothing to do with politics for a long while, especially fundraising.

[Rebl2]

22. Might as well

start debates well ahead of election.
Trump is still doing rallies. He’s doing one the day before Inauguration Day.

[sop]

23. They definitely should.

I would like to see likely Democratic candidate(s) involved in town hall-type forums throughout the country, taking questions from local voters, and, if multiple candidates are participating, having open, informal conversations about issues. I believe voters are tired of formal debates, with candidates at lecterns arguing and talking over one another, moderators posing gotcha questions and the media controling the whole process.

[pinkstarburst]

24. People have politics fatigue

But I do think we need to jump into it RIGHT after the midterms.

And as for the debates themselves, I would love to see them format them differently this time. Last time with 20 people in the debates and 10 per night up on stage, it was a zoo. I turned the early debates off after only a few minutes because it was just people shouting over each other with no moderation. You couldn't even hear what was being said. I really disliked that so many people got in just in the first place because it allowed people with no chance like Marianne Williamson and Tulsi Gabbard (we see how that turned out) to get a microphone and would rather they have higher standards to qualify and ALSO rank and divide the candidates and split them by night.

I would like only the top 6 democratic candidates based on polling to debate each other so that stage isn't as crowded. Most likely one of them will be the candidate anyway, and I would rather not have some doesn't have a chance person taking wild soundbite shots at Harris or Buttigieg or Newsom every 30 seconds, or a wild zoo of everyone screaming over each other so no one can hear anything. The rest of the field could be divided up over 2 nights if we have 20.

[Yavin4]

25. What evidence do you have that voters are fatigued?

Yes, voters are tired of news about Trump, but the debates are about charting a future after Trump. If the Democrats only talk to voters in the month before election day, then don't get mad when they don't show up.

[Fiendish Thingy]

33. The fact that millions of Biden 2020 voters stayed home in 2024. Nt

[Jose Garcia]

26. No. Keep the focus on Trump & Republicans for the midterms

[Emile]

27. It will piss off Republicans.

Great Idea!

[Quiet Em]

28. I think that is too soon.

Our society is very ill. We are close to hitting rock bottom. I think we need to let the dust settle for a bit before we can consider how we recover. Leaders will emerge, there is no need to force it.

[flvegan]

29. I'm all for trying something different.

Obvious reasons being obvious.

If that means starting the political discussions sooner rather than later, then lets do so. Might also be a good way to shine some light on the negative things the Stinky DJT party is doing since the MSM isn't going to bother.

[Voltaire2]

30. That is pretty much a horrible idea.

The presidential campaign 'season' is already far too long.

[Fiendish Thingy]

31. Terrible idea.

Nobody would watch, for starters, and I’m guessing no candidates would participate this early, other than Marianne Williamson types who have no chance.

For the next two years, the spotlight should be completely focused on the corruption and incompetence of Trump 2.0, and the suffering it causes.

Then, in fall 2026, Dems can campaign for the midterms with the following slogan:

“HAD ENOUGH?”

[betsuni]

40. Exactly!

[JI7]

32. Virginia Governor Elections and NYC Mayor Elections are This year

and a few other important statewide elections.

[ThePartyThatListens]

44. Too soon

It's better for the Democrats to be united than n their fight against Trump at this time.

Start there.

[Blue Full Moon]

45. He needs done the same as he did to Biden

File for the presidency. Then every foreign issue that comes up. The candidate calls the foreign leader and derail tRump plan. Russia, North Korea his owners it won't work on. Give press conferences at the same time as his. Need to hold massive rallies all 4 years. Give some hope.

[sop]

47. Trump spent four years acting like a president in exile waiting to be rightfully restored to power.

[Blue Full Moon]

49. The republicans have never been held accountable.

Interfering with Iranian hostages. Interfering with the withdrawal and treaty with Vietnam. Interfering with the hostages and cease fire with Netanyahu. I am sure there's more.

[Vinca]

46. Too soon. Give everything a chance to go to hell first. It's not going to take long. If Democrats start so soon,

Trump will blame that distraction on his massive failure. It would be good for potential candidates to get their ducks in a row starting now. Make a plan, find staff, etc.

[BannonsLiver]

48. Hell to the NO