On Nov. 5, this country had a choice between a prosecutor or a criminal. And it picked the criminal. It had a choice between a competent leader or an extremist who wants to abolish the Department of Education, create a Muslim ban, deport Latinos, undermine civil rights for African Americans and roll back protections for the LGBTQ+ community. And it picked the extremist.

But we can’t give up, because that’s how democracy dies. That means we need a strategic reset, refocus and regrouping of the Democratic Party.

Here are three recommendations I have for whoever becomes the new party chair:

First, we need to keep voters engaged in non-election years. When only about 40% of your registered voters come out during congressional midterms, and only around 20% in local elections, you need to understand the serious disconnect between you and your base. One of the best ways to increase voter turnout during election years is to prioritize community engagement during governing years. Voters need to see a direct connection between the challenges they face at home and the issues being addressed by their elected officials.

Unfortunately, the current system makes it unnecessarily difficult for people to make their voices heard.

Those who care about an issue are not given clear instructions on how to testify, and even if they figure it out, they often face inaccessible locations and narrow timeframes to participate. We need to make this process more inclusive and accessible.

By addressing these barriers, we will not only boost voter turnout when it matters but also strengthen our democratic institutions for generations to come.

Second, we need to focus on voters, not donors. Party leaders often prioritize courting donors over engaging voters during campaigns.

Time and again, I’ve been told by party leaders, strategists and consultants that raising the most money is all that matters when running for office. Some elected officials have even admitted they base endorsements on who can contribute the most to their reelection campaigns rather than who will best serve their constituents.

Even when I speak about my campaign experiences, the first question insiders ask is rarely about the number of volunteers, doors knocked or policies shared — it’s always, “How much money did you raise?”

This mindset is a fundamental flaw in our electoral process.

Equating funds raised with community support alienates voters. People want leaders who genuinely care about them and can prove it — not just candidates who boast about fundraising totals while asking for more donations.

The Democratic Party must rebuild trust with voters by shifting its focus from donor cultivation to volunteer recruitment, from endless fundraising calls to meaningful voter engagement.

Finally, the part needs to fight for bold policies. Now is not the time for hesitation on progressive policies. Voters are signaling loud and clear: They’re tired of the status quo and are craving transformative change.

Let’s move beyond empty platitudes and generic talking points and instead advocate concrete and specific policies that show we’re serious about the issues we stand for, from electoral reform to universal health care to combating gun violence to taking climate change seriously.

The Republican Party, through Donald Trump, has offered its version of a bold vision — one rooted in division and regression. Democrats have a unique opportunity to counter this by presenting a vision that is equally bold but rooted in hope, equity and progress.

Ashwani Jain has worked in the Obama and Biden administrations and was a Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland.