As the Democratic National Committee (DNC) gathered in Minneapolis for its annual summer meeting in late August 2025, the party found itself at a crossroads—beset by plunging poll numbers, internal divisions, and mounting pressure from both its base and external political adversaries. Over 400 party officials from across the United States convened at a downtown hotel, hoping to chart a way forward after a bruising year that saw Democrats lose the White House, the Senate, and fall short in their bid to reclaim the House majority. The stakes could hardly be higher, with the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon and the party’s once-solid coalition showing signs of strain.
DNC Chair Ken Martin, elected earlier this year, didn’t sugarcoat the party’s predicament. In a candid interview with Fox News Digital, Martin admitted, “There's no doubt that … we have work to do.” He acknowledged the party’s continued loss of ground with key voter groups, especially younger Americans, and a brand that has become “deeply unpopular” in national surveys. Martin’s remarks to the assembled officials on Monday morning echoed this urgency: “I'm sick and tired of this Democratic Party bringing a pencil to a knife fight. We cannot be the only party that plays by the rules anymore.”
Yet, even as Martin tried to rally the troops, the meeting was marked by discord over one of the most contentious issues facing the party: the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has now stretched on for nearly two years. On August 26, the DNC decisively rejected Resolution 18, a measure that called for the recognition of a Palestinian state, a ceasefire in Gaza, an arms embargo, and a suspension of military aid to Israel. Instead, members initially backed a more moderate, status quo resolution introduced by Martin himself—calling for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and a two-state solution—but Martin ultimately withdrew this resolution after hearing testimony from both sides.
“I know that there are some who are interested in making changes today, but as we’ve seen, there’s divide in our party on this issue,” Martin told the attendees. “This is a moment that calls for shared dialog. It calls for shared advocacy, and that’s why I’ve decided today, at this moment, listening to the testimony and listening to people in our party, to withdraw my amendment and resolution.” He announced the formation of a new task force, promising it would include stakeholders from all perspectives to “bring solutions back to our party.”
The debate over Resolution 18 was fierce, with lobbying groups like Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) mounting strong opposition. DMFI president Brian Romick warned that advancing the resolution “will further divide our Party, provide a gift to Republicans, and send a signal that will embolden Israel’s adversaries.” The sentiment was clear: party unity was at risk, and the leadership was wary of fueling intra-party fights that could jeopardize their chances in the upcoming midterms.
Yet, polling data paints a different picture of the Democratic base’s views. According to an August 2025 poll by YouGov and The Economist, 69% of Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, including a striking 77% of Kamala Harris voters. A June Quinnipiac survey found that only 12% of Democratic voters sympathize more with Israelis than Palestinians. Meanwhile, a July Gallup poll showed that just 8% of Democratic voters support Israel’s military actions in Gaza, and only 9% back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An April poll from Data for Progress and Zeteo revealed that 71% of likely Democratic primary voters want the United States to end arms transfers to Israel until attacks on civilians cease, with 80% of those under 45 supporting restrictions on military assistance.
Advocates for Palestinian rights, like IMEU Policy Project Executive Director Margaret DeReus, argued that “Organizations like Democratic Majority For Israel, despite their name, don’t represent the vast majority of Democratic voters who support cutting off weapons to Israel, or the 69% of Democrats who believe Israel is committing genocide, according to the latest polling.” DeReus added, “It’s another sign of just how out of touch Democratic Party leadership is today that dark money groups like DMFI… were consulted ahead of DNC Chair Ken Martin’s decision… while advocates for Palestinian rights who represent most Democrats were once again shut out and ignored.”
This disconnect between leadership and the base has not gone unnoticed. Allison Minnerly, the 26-year-old DNC member who sponsored Resolution 18, told Politico that Martin’s withdrawal of his own resolution might reveal deeper anxieties within the party’s upper echelons. “I think that there could have been more intentional conversation sooner,” Minnerly said. “I do think that his decision to pull his resolution now might reflect, maybe, some inner thoughts and fears that even the establishment Democratic Party, here at the DNC, is not aligned with the base and trying to avoid that conversation because it’s already created a problem with the party.”
Meanwhile, the party’s troubles extend far beyond the Israel-Gaza debate. Democrats are grappling with a massive fundraising deficit compared to the Republican National Committee (RNC), as major donors have scaled back contributions. New voter data reported by The New York Times in August showed Democratic Party registration plummeting, while GOP sign-ups are on the rise in the 30 states that register voters by party. The party’s brand, especially among younger voters, has reached historic lows in national polls. Former RNC chair Michael Whatley, now running for the Senate, claimed in a Fox News Digital interview that Democrats “are moving further and further and farther to the left. They are walking away from Main Street right now. They are beholden to left-wing radical woke policies.”
Despite these challenges, there have been bright spots for the Democrats. The party has scored a series of off-year and special election victories and recruited high-profile candidates—former Gov. Roy Cooper in North Carolina and former Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio—for the crucial 2026 Senate races. Ken Martin, ever the optimist, insisted, “When you hit rock bottom, there's only one direction to go, and that's up, and that's what we're doing.” He also took direct aim at former President Donald Trump, calling him a “dictator-in-chief” and describing his administration as “facism dressed in a red tie.” Martin emphasized, “We are the only things standing in his way. We are unified in stopping Donald Trump and putting this country back on track.”
Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee, under new chair Joe Gruters, is feeling confident. “We have the momentum on our side, we have the issues on our side, and we have a president who cares about every single American. And we're gonna take that vision and push it all the way through the midterms,” Gruters told Fox News Digital.
Back inside the Democratic tent, the Israel-Gaza debate has spilled into local politics. Lawmakers like Rep. Herb Conaway (D-NJ) and Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) have faced angry protests over their support for Israel, and even high-ranking officials such as House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) have been forced to clarify or walk back statements on Gaza amid activist pressure. In California and Virginia, efforts have emerged to suppress pro-Palestine sentiment within state and local Democratic parties, further highlighting the internal rifts.
With the 2026 midterms fast approaching, the Democratic Party faces a daunting task: mending its fractured coalition, reconnecting with disillusioned voters, and reconciling deep divisions over foreign policy. The summer meeting in Minneapolis may have offered no easy answers, but it made one thing clear—the party’s path forward will require more than unity in rhetoric; it will demand genuine engagement with its base and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
