Recent research from Democratic polling firm Navigator Research reveals growing disillusionment among some voters with the Democratic Party. Participants in the study expressed concerns about the party's direction and disconnect from the working class.

One voter likened the Democrats to an ostrich with its "head in the sand," clinging to failing ideas. Another echoed sentiments expressed by Senator Bernie Sanders, stating the party is "no longer a friend of the working class."

The study, shared with Politico, categorized focus groups into three segments: young men in battleground states who switched their vote from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024; battleground state voters who supported Biden in 2020 but abstained in 2024; and blue state voters who either voted third party, didn't vote in 2020, or switched to Trump in 2024. This research highlights a significant challenge for Democrats as they navigate the political landscape.

Rachel Russell, Navigator Research's director of polling and analytics, emphasized the urgency of addressing this voter dissatisfaction. She suggested the issues might extend beyond messaging and policy, pointing to a potential deeper disconnect within the party.

A Georgia voter expressed concern over the perceived gap between Democratic elites and average voters, suggesting that the party's focus on "far-left social progressivism" may alienate a significant portion of the electorate.

Senator Sanders, an Independent, has been a vocal critic of the Democratic Party's approach to working-class voters. He argues that the party's perceived abandonment of this demographic has led to reciprocal disengagement.