The reelection of Donald Trump was a complete rejection of the Democratic Party, as well as President Joe Biden’s performance and Kamala Harris’ campaign message and approach.

The Democratic Party made significant losses among crucial voter groups that included Hispanics, African Americans, young men, married women, Jewish Americans, Arab Americans, union members, and working- and middle-class voters in suburban areas.

This election marked a historic setback for the party, giving rise to a new faction of voters – the hidden Trump Democrats – who will influence future elections.

The pressing question remains: why did this happen? And perhaps more importantly, how did we miss the signs?

Biden ignored Americans’ top concerns

The reasons for this outcome were evident long before the election. Many voters became weary of being lectured by a group of political and cultural elites who overlooked the serious economic hardships they faced due to inflation, as well as their valid concerns about issues like illegal immigration and crime.

To make matters worse, these same elites pressured them to conform to an extreme liberal cultural narrative or risk facing severe backlash on social media.

As a result, millions of traditional Democratic voters chose to remain silent, holding back their frustration until Election Day, when their repressed feelings finally erupted.

For those of us who study voter behavior, it is clear that this frustration and anger was palpable; all it needed was for Democratic Party leaders to stop and hear it.

Consider this: In nearly every poll and focus group I have conducted over the past four years, inflation and the economy consistently emerged as the foremost concerns for voters. This finding held true across both private and public surveys.

However, the Biden administration dismissed these worries, viewing them as temporary. When Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., whom I have advised for a long time, wrote a timely op-ed in The Wall Street Journal warning about the inflation threat, the White House and elite circles largely ridiculed it as exaggeration.

In reality, it was not an exaggeration. For those supporting themselves and their families amidst rising costs, inflation was a dire economic challenge.

Regarding immigration, surveys have shown that voters ranked it as one of their top concerns for the last four years. Yet, the White House and Democratic leaders chose to wait until just months before the election to feign urgency for action. This delay exemplified a failure of leadership and a lack of attentiveness to their voters’ needs.

Voters expressed frustration over inflation and immigration for several years, but instead of tackling these critical issues directly, Democratic leaders silenced them with condescending lectures about the economy and immigration problems. They reassured voters that they would address these matters eventually.

This led to voters simmering in frustration, choosing to stay quiet until the Election Day arrived.

Over the last decade, my firm has carried out national public opinion research for our clients. Throughout the past four years, we observed this rising economic and political frustration vividly in numerous focus groups and polls.

It was disheartening to hear a diverse group of individuals – from all sides of the political spectrum – discuss the economic strain caused by inflation. These voters weren’t motivated by racism or sexism; they didn’t harbor a strong dislike for Biden, Harris, or the Democrats. In fact, many of them were not particularly fond of Trump either. What they truly desired was for someone in Washington to listen and provide genuine help rather than lecture them.

Democrats need to stop listening to elites

Several lessons must be learned from this monumental setback for the Democratic Party – at least I hope so. My primary hope for the Democratic Party, pollsters, and media members is simple: cease listening exclusively to other elites who mainly share your viewpoints.

For goodness’ sake, stop taking advice from celebrities or well-off coastal residents – they have no real understanding of everyday challenges like grocery prices.

Instead, engage in conversations with ordinary people from various regions of the country, regardless of their political beliefs.

Most importantly, refrain from talking down to them – just listen without feeling the need to correct them or tell them they are wrong for their feelings. You will be surprised by what you learn.

Chris Kofinis is a veteran Democratic consultant and CEO of Park Street Strategies.