Democrats Are ‘A Defeated Party In The Wilderness’: Former Clinton Adviser [WATCH]

Former Clinton adviser and longtime Democratic pollster Mark Penn stated Monday that the Democratic Party could take between two and four years to recover from its current leadership vacuum and internal disarray.

Speaking on Fox News’ Hannity, Penn said the party currently lacks a unifying figure or coherent platform following President Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.

“There’s no real leader of the Democratic Party right now, in all honesty. There’s no platform. There’s no program,” Penn said.

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He made the remarks during a panel discussion led by guest host Katie Pavlich, who asked about growing Democratic infighting and controversial public statements made by younger party figures.

Shortly after Trump’s win in November, divisions within the Democratic Party escalated.

The party has struggled to consolidate its messaging, and prominent public figures such as Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett and newly appointed Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg have drawn attention for their viral social media activity rather than policy proposals.

“Let’s not confuse social media leaders with real leaders. These are not the real leaders of the Democratic Party,” Penn said.

“They’re saying outlandish things. So they get on social media, and then they get picked up over here.”

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David Hogg, a former activist who rose to national attention and now serves as vice chair of the DNC, has been vocal about what he sees as the party’s disconnect from young male voters.

In a Friday appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Hogg argued that the Democratic Party has become too elitist and out of touch, saying that young men are unable to focus on basic life goals like “how to get laid and how to go and have fun.”

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He said the parties have flipped. Democrats are now the snobs that judge your every move.

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Since joining the DNC leadership in 2024, Hogg has called for major changes within the party.

In April, he announced plans to support primary challenges against incumbent Democrats in the 2026 midterms and to raise significant funds for younger, more progressive candidates.

His approach has received internal backlash, with the DNC reportedly considering a vote to remove him from his leadership role.

Democratic strategist James Carville publicly criticized Hogg’s strategy, calling it “jackassery of the highest level.”

While some Democrats argue that the party’s recent losses are due to flawed policies, others suggest the core problem is communication.

Penn suggested that Democrats remain stuck in a period of political wilderness and compared their current situation to past downturns in Republican fortunes.

“When you’re a defeated party in the wilderness, you take a while to come back. It could be two years. It could be four years,” Penn said.

“The Republicans were out for a long time. Democrats. These parties eventually come back.”

Penn also commented on President Trump’s political resurgence, noting that risks Trump took early in his second term appear to be paying off.

“Trump was kind of dipping a bit, but I really think he’s coming back quite strongly now,” he said.

“So I think he’s gone back to being a very formidable leader.”

Recent polling highlights the Democrats’ current struggles. A CNN/SSRS survey conducted in March found Democratic Party favorability at 29 percent — the lowest level recorded in years and a sharp decline from January 2021.

The same poll reported that over 30 percent of respondents could not name a single Democratic figure who they believed best represented the party.

Those who did offered a wide range of names, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats.

The party has not announced any formal plan for rebuilding ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

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