Clinton says Democrats missed opportunities to win over key voter groups in 2024

Hillary Clinton said Democrats missed opportunities in reaching key voter groups in the 2024 election, including working-class White men, working-class Black men, Latinos, and young men. The remarks were delivered during an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, where host Joe Scarborough pressed Clinton on how the party should move forward. Scarborough asked, "What’s gone wrong? What do the Democrats need to do moving forward to set things straight?" as Clinton laid out a broad set of concerns.

Clinton argued that there are many reasons for Democratic losses, but she pointed to the Republican Party's superior ability to dominate social media and turn messaging into modern communications. "the Republican Party, I have to say, has done a much better job dominating social media, dominating the podcast ecosystem, getting messages out and aiming, particularly at young men." She credited outreach efforts by Republicans and noted that they effectively reach men online. "There’s a lot of catch-up work to be done," she said about Democrats' digital strategy. The comments came as Clinton referenced broader concerns about how audiences consume news in the digital age and the need for Democrats to compete in those spaces.

She said Democrats needed to compete in 15-second videos, 30-second takes, and long podcasts, given that many people get their news from social media. "If they’re getting their news from 15-second videos, 30-second takes, 3-hour podcasts, where people are just kind of unplugged and saying whatever, then Democrats had better compete in those arenas." She added, noting that there’s still a broad need for convergence across media formats: short takes for quick grabs, longer formats for depth, and everything in between to reach a diverse audience.

Clinton also said Americans did not feel like they were better off in the last election. "They did not feel that, fairly or unfairly, the policies of the Biden administration were helping them, helping their families, and Latino voters felt that, as you say, both Latino men, Black men and others said, ‘OK, well, how bad can it get? I mean, you know, we’re not going to want to continue this. So we have to try something different,'" she said. The remarks underscore ongoing debates inside the Democratic Party about how to adapt messaging to different demographics and the platforms through which voters receive information.

In related commentary accompanying coverage of Clinton's remarks, pundits noted that some Democratic strategists have faced scrutiny over messaging toward men. James Carville, among others, has been cited in coverage for criticizing what some see as a push in Democratic circles toward messaging centered on progressive social issues, a critique summarized in headlines about the party's 'future is female' framing and its impact on male voters.

Clinton's comments come as a 92NY event context is noted: she attended a conversation with Reid Hoffman at 92NY in New York City on January 28, 2025, reflecting a broader cycle of conversations with live audiences about the party's direction and strategy in the digital era.

The discussion also touched on how traditional outlets and new media interact in shaping public perception and political decisions. Clinton criticized the pace and reach of Democratic messaging in comparison with Republican efforts to harness social media, podcasts, and viral content to reach younger and less traditional news consumers. She argued that the party must be more disciplined and adaptable in the way it speaks to voters who consume information in rapid, short formats, as well as those who engage with longer, analysis-heavy programs.

The exchange illustrates a broader, ongoing conversation within the Democratic Party about technology, media strategy, and how to address concerns among working-class and minority communities ahead of future elections. Clinton did not offer a single, definitive solution but emphasized the need for Democrats to compete across the spectrum of digital formats, to listen to voters, and to present policies that demonstrably improve their daily lives. The remarks may intensify discussions about how the party can balance policy priorities with messaging tactics in a rapidly changing information landscape.