Democratic strategist James Carville is urging his party to take bold, unilateral actions to ‘save democracy’ by reshaping the political landscape. During a recent speech, Carville argued that the party must open ‘Pandora’s Box’ with power grabs like granting statehood to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, as well as expanding the Supreme Court to 13 members. He framed these steps as essential to counter the perceived threats to democracy, particularly in an era marked by the potential influence of President Donald Trump. While Carville acknowledged the risks of such measures, he emphasized that the current political climate demands unprecedented action to safeguard democratic institutions.
Carville pointed to the current political landscape, including Texas’ attempts to redraw its congressional districts, as a clear example of the imperfections in the existing democratic system. He argued that if Democrats can pull off a resounding victory in 2028—winning the presidency, the Senate, and the House—they should use this power to enshrine their authority in ways that ensure long-term control. Carville said that these actions, while controversial, are necessary to combat the growing challenges posed by what he views as a destabilizing political environment. He also raised concerns about the potential interference of President Trump in the 2026 midterm elections, suggesting that Democrats must be prepared to take drastic measures to secure their political agenda.
Despite the potential political fallout, Carville argued that the stakes are too high to avoid such drastic steps. ‘Any of those things in isolation I would be skeptical about,’ he said, acknowledging the risks. ‘But if you want to save democracy, I think you got to do all of those things because we just are moving further and further away from being anything close to democracy.’ Carville’s comments underscore the deepening internal debates within the Democratic Party about the balance between political power and the preservation of democratic norms, highlighting the growing urgency of the situation as the 2028 elections approach.