Democrats need a better spirit animal

According to the New York Times, voters see the Republicans as "apex predators." Democrats ... a Sloth? Perhaps the Dems might want to project something a little more feral.

May 29, 2025

In the grand circus of American politics, where elephants and donkeys have long been on the marquee, the Democratic Party is facing a concerning predicament: they’re struggling to attract men.

It’s not just a vibe check gone wrong. It’s a full-blown identity crisis.

And if you ask Democratic researcher Anat Shenker-Osorio, as quoted in a New York Times article from May 25, 2025, the problem might boil down to a zoological mismatch.1 According to focus groups, voters see Republicans as “apex predators” — lions, tigers, and sharks (oh my!) — while Democrats are viewed as tortoises, slugs, or, most humiliatingly, sloths.

Nothing screams teeming testosterone like a plushy sloth. If the Democratic Party wants to win over men, they might need to trade in their placental mammels for something a bit more feral.

Picture this: a Republican senator striding confidently like a lion across the savanna of swing states. Now, compare that to a sloth, hanging lazily from a branch, munching on a leaf while droning on about climate oppression.

It’s not exactly a fair fight. Men, especially the young, restless ones who a charismatic Barack Obama might’ve once swayed, simply aren’t vibing with the sloth energy. Shenker-Osorio’s research, based on 250 focus groups, suggests that voters perceive Republicans as bold, decisive, and ready to pounce, while Democrats come off as plodding, passive and perpetually stuck in committee meetings reciting land acknowledgements.

No wonder men are swiping left on the Dems — who wants to date a party that’s laggard and lethargic?

The animal imagery is more than just a slick metaphor; it’s a gut punch to the Democratic brand. According to the Times, Republicans project a kind of masculine gravitas that resonates with voters who want action. Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to sell “cautious optimism” and “incremental progress” — traits that don’t exactly scream alpha energy. It’s like they’re trying to win a cage fight by offering their opponent a strongly worded letter.

Democrats are trying to sell “cautious optimism” and “incremental progress” — traits that don’t exactly scream alpha energy. It’s like they’re trying to win a cage fight by offering their opponent a strongly worded letter.

Men aren’t buying it. As the Times noted, Trump’s victory was a “cultural rejection” of the Democrats’ slow-paced approach, leaving them scrambling to figure out what went wrong.

So, what’s the root of this man-repelling malaise?

Social Issues

For starters, the Democrats have leaned so hard into social issues like abortion, L.G.B.T.Q. (etc, etc, etc.) rights, and climate change that they’ve forgotten how to talk about the stuff that keeps guys up at night: jobs, bills, fart noises, and the vague but persistent feeling that the system is perpetually screwing them over.

A February 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll found that Americans think Democrats are obsessed with progressive pet projects while ignoring meat-and-potatoes issues like the economy and inflation. Men want a party engaged in an MMA brawl, not a struggle session. When your spirit animal is a sloth, it’s hard to convince anyone you’re ready to throw down in the economic octagon.

Then there’s the imaging problem. Democrats have tried to be the “regular guy” of politics — inclusive, empathetic, and oh-so-reasonable. You know, Tim Walz. But as any dating app veteran knows, regular guys finish last when they’re up against bad boys with a line of B.S. and bold promises.

Trump’s unapologetic combination of bravado and bullshit tapped into a raw, masculine frustration that the Democrats never saw coming. He hung out with Joe Rogan and Theo Von. He regularly attends MMA fights. He won young men — even nonwhite men — by margins that shocked pollsters, proving that “narrative violations” are real and the Dems are on the wrong side of them.

Men don’t want a lecture on intersectionality. They want someone who’s going to kick some ass.

“Toxic” Masculinity?

And let’s not ignore the cultural fumbles. The Democrats’ embrace of progressive orthodoxy has left them sounding like they’re scolding men for just existing. From “toxic masculinity” to memes about “fragile male egos,” it feels as if a gender studies professor authored the party’s platform. Even being a gym bro is seen as repugnant and “right-wing.”

Meanwhile, Republicans have built an ecosystem of influencers — think Turning Point USA, but with better biceps — who speak directly to young men’s desire for purpose and pride. The Times reported in November 2024 that Democrats were “badly outflanked online,” and it’s no wonder. While Republicans are churning out viral clips of alpha bros preaching self-reliance, Democrats are still trying to figure out how to make “allyship” and “feminine adjacent” sound sexy.

Solution? Be a Shark

So, what’s a sloth-loving party to do? First, they need a mascot makeover. Ditch the tortoise and adopt something with a bit more edge — maybe a wolverine, fierce and scrappy, or at least a caffeinated squirrel.

Second, they need to stop talking like they’re auditioning for a TED Talk and start speaking to men’s real-world concerns and the ability to afford a beer without taking out a loan.

And finally, they need to take a page from the Republicans’ playbook and embrace boldness. As one opinion piece suggested, channeling philosopher John Rawls’ vision of a “humane and egalitarian” society could help Democrats craft an aspirational message without being preachy.

In the end, the Democrats’ man problem isn’t just about policy or messaging — it’s about vibe. Men want a party that feels like it’s got their back, not one that’s lecturing them on how to behave at a cocktail party. Until the Democrats trade in a sloth for a shark, they’ll keep losing ground to the apex predators across the aisle.

####