H O W A R D S B E N D

I am convinced that the movie The Odyssey is a metaphor for the Democratic Party’s current struggle to return to power. After a long, grueling, and extraordinarily costly battle—the 2024 election—the party, led by the mythical Odysseus, representing its ideal candidate, must navigate a series of daunting obstacles on its journey home. Like Odysseus, Democrats will face political storms and formidable adversaries as they seek to reclaim control of both the House and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.

The first stop on the journey is the encounter with the Cyclops, who obviously represents Republicans viewing the world through a single, narrow MAGA eye. Its inability to see beyond a single perspective makes him a formidable obstacle at first glance, yet surprisingly easy to overcome.

Next, our hero encounters a race of giant cannibals who nearly devastate Odysseus’s entire fleet by raining massive boulders onto the ships. They symbolize the Republican billionaire class, which unleashes torrents of campaign cash at candidates willing to oppose progressive causes. They are not easy to defeat as they have unlimited resources to throw at their hand-picked controllable candidates.

Odysseus arrives at the island of the sorceress Circe, whose enchanted potion transforms men into pigs. In our allegory, those pigs represent Democrats who wandered off to vote Republican over a single issue—whether immigration, transgender athletes, or some other hot-button cultural debate. Our mythical Democratic Odysseus must break the spell and return those swine to the fold.

As the journey continues, our ideal candidate—Odysseus—must resist the Sirens, whose irresistible songs represent the countless special-interest groups, each demanding to be the campaign’s highest priority. The temptation of catering to a single group risks crashing the political campaign. He must also navigate the whirlpool of corruption, which threatens to swallow even the most promising movement or candidate.

Finally, Odysseus must escape the enchanting embrace of Calypso with her seductive lure and seductive lifestyle, who symbolizes the wealthy class of Democratic donors. Like the immortal nymph, these benefactors tempt candidates with millions of dollars in exchange for championing the interests of favored industries—whether pharmaceuticals, banking, or technology. Their generosity can be enticing, keeping candidates associated with narrow interests instead of allowing them to emerge as leaders capable of appealing to the broader electorate. Our true hero has the strength to finally break from the seduction of the comforts and privilege that these donors represent.

At last, Odysseus returns home to Ithica to find his home overrun with mediocre candidates for Penelope’s affection. Like Penelope’s suitors, the Democratic Party lacks candidates that possess the imagination, courage, or vision needed to lead the Party back to power. Each waits patiently for consultants, pollsters, or party insiders to declare them the “chosen one,” while carefully avoiding the risks that real leadership demands. Then Odysseus arrives to upend the status quo. He reminds these pretenders that leadership is earned, not bestowed; that respect must be won, not assumed; and that a party without a compelling vision cannot expect voters to follow it.

The Democratic Party needs an Odysseus—someone with the perseverance to endure hardship, the wisdom to resist temptation, and the courage to chart a new course. Will such a leader emerge for the Party?