This analysis examines the predicaments faced by the U.S. Democratic Party in terms of its party functions, pointing out an imbalance between its organizational structure and functional performance. This was particularly exposed during the 2024 presidential election, revealing long-term issues of functional degradation. From the perspective of party functions, the discussion delves into the institutional dilemmas of the Democratic Party across dimensions such as political elite selection, policy integration, interest articulation, and political mobilization, uncovering the structural roots of the distortion of party functions in the United States. It emphasizes that as a guardian of the system, the functional decline of the Democratic Party has profound implications for the stability of the overall political system.

I. Understanding the Predicaments of U.S. Political Parties from a Functional Perspective

This section provides an in-depth analysis of the dilemmas and coping strategies of American political parties from the perspective of party functions. It first emphasizes the central role of political parties in modern democratic politics, acting as political engines and regulators responsible for aggregating social preferences and sustaining democratic participation, among other key functions. It then elaborates on the multifaceted roles of parties, including cultivating political elites, articulating and integrating interests, formulating policies, and conducting political socialization and mobilization, noting functional differences under various party systems. The discussion references scholars like Charles Merriam and their research on American party functions, covering dimensions from selecting officials and policymaking to political education. Furthermore, considering the federal-state relationship in the U.S., it explores the role of parties in maintaining federalism and their close connection with democratic governance. Within the context of a competitive two-party system, the focus is on the election-centric functional orientation of American parties. It analyzes how five key functions—elite selection, policymaking, and interest articulation—manifest specifically in presidential elections, examining aspects like primary systems, inter-party competitive dynamics, and the issue-oriented nature of political platforms. Finally, it underscores the success of American parties in elections and their significance in democratic politics, where political mobilization enhances voter identification, influences voting choices, and ultimately facilitates governance.

II. Manifestations of Functional Failure: The Democratic Party's Dilemma in the 2024 Election Cycle

This section delves into the numerous functional dilemmas encountered by the U.S. Democratic Party during the 2024 election cycle. First, in the realm of political elite selection, the party abandoned Biden due to concerns over his age and performance, nominating Harris instead, who did not participate in the primaries. This move severely undermined the role of the intra-party primary system, damaging the credibility and legitimacy of internal democratic mechanisms, and reflected the party's disregard for public opinion expression and a functional collapse in its institutional operations during a crisis. Second, regarding platform and policy formulation, the Democratic Party's 2024 platform covered numerous issues but was disconnected from Harris's policies. It also showed insufficient focus on economic issues while overemphasizing topics like abortion and gender, making it difficult to effectively address voter concerns, particularly losing support among voters facing significant economic pressures. Finally, in terms of interest articulation/integration and political mobilization functions, the Democratic Party's advocacy for identity politics and politically correct discourse resonated more with college-educated voters, leading to a decline in support among working-class voters. This voter realignment caused a deviation in its interest integration efforts, resulting in insufficient social mobilization capacity and decreased voter turnout in traditional strongholds, ultimately contributing to its electoral defeat.

III. Behind the Dysfunction of the Democratic Party: The Misalignment Between Party Politics, Institutions, and Society

This section provides an in-depth analysis of the complex issues underlying the Democratic Party's functional dysfunction, pointing out a significant misalignment between institutions and society. First, the party faces a generational crisis in elite reproduction; since the 2016 presidential election, it has lacked a stable cohort of mid-career leaders, making sustained strategic deployment difficult. Second, there is a fracture in the party's representativeness, as party identification has increasingly been replaced by identity labels, weakening its ability to integrate across social classes. Third, the party's voter mobilization methods rely excessively on politically correct discourse, neglecting the tangible connection with material interests and policy issues, which limits the effectiveness of its mobilization efforts. These misalignments reflect the Democratic Party's inadequacy in adapting to the evolution of its social base and pose serious challenges to its future political development.

IV. Response and Reorientation: The Democratic Party's Post-2024 Election Reconstruction Attempts and Their Limitations

Following the defeat in the 2024 election, the Democratic Party attempted reconstruction in areas such as organization, representativeness, and discourse mechanisms. In terms of organizational structure, while some mid-career figures gained attention, inertia hindered elite renewal, and grassroots candidates struggled to break through existing dependencies. Regarding the reconstruction of representativeness, the traditional support coalition fragmented, and adjustment strategies lacked a nationally coordinated framework. In reshaping discourse mechanisms, the party altered its language style, but this sparked controversy over functional distortion. Intra-party divisions over political direction and generational tensions intensified, with a lack of integration mechanisms and a culture of negotiation. Although the party achieved victories in local elections in November 2025, these successes were largely attributed to external factors, while its own problems remained severe. The adjustments lacked institutionalized support and national-level integration, making the reconstruction process fraught with obstacles.

V. Conclusion

The conclusion points out the disconnection between the theory and practice of American political parties. Parties have fallen into organizational "hollowing out" due to factors like "permanent campaigning," leading to a contraction in representativeness. Identity politics has distorted traditional ideologies. The 2024 election highlighted the failure of the American party system, where political polarization and formalism have weakened the public spirit. Partisan competition has marginalized public issues, damaging the value of representative democracy.