Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, Democrats are grappling with how to move forward, with many leaders agreeing that simply restoring pre-Trump policies is not enough.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 rallying cry — “We are not going back” — has become a broader party reckoning. Strategists and leaders like Mike Nellis and Pete Buttigieg argue that the old Democratic systems failed many Americans, and rebuilding them would only open the door to worse outcomes in 2032.

Younger voices like Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow are calling for generational change, echoing concerns from voters who feel disconnected and hopeless about their future. An NBC News poll found 77% of Americans believe real change requires a new generation of leadership. Democratic figures like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz say Trump’s dismantling of government institutions could offer a rare opportunity to reimagine them — if Democrats seize it with bold, future-focused vision