'Rare and urgent opportunity' for Democrats highlighted by conservative pollster

A Republican critic of president Donald Trump offered five reasons that Democrats should go on the offensive against the MAGA movement.

Trump's coalition is splintering over tariffs, the federal budget and the Israel-Iran conflict, and Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid wrote on his "Great Transformation" Substack that Democrats should exploit that "rare moment of GOP disarray" to frame the contrast and energize their base.

"Public clashes between MAGA-aligned Republicans and traditional conservatives are painting the GOP as fundamentally dysfunctional," Madrid wrote. "The opposition must aggressively frame this as a party incapable of governing. Use contrast messaging: We govern. They wreak havoc."

He suggested highlighting GOP infighting as the "chaos caucus," using words like anarchy and bedlam, and he encouraged Democrats to emphasize how Trump's trade wars drove up costs on everything from housing to food.

"Republican divisions over tariffs open a rare opportunity to reclaim the economic narrative," Madrid wrote. "Protectionist policies are alienating businesses, farmers, and trade partners. Democrats can position themselves as the party of responsible economics and working-class prosperity."

Madrid proposed attacking Republican economic policies with a regional focus, citing as an example how funding cuts would hurt farmers and rural Americans, and he urged Democrats to remind voters of the GOP track record of costly Middle Eastern wars that sacrifice American lives.

"The Israel-Iran conflict is exposing deep Republican divisions between isolationists and traditional interventionists," Madrid wrote. "Democrats should speak with one voice and project calm, capable leadership on the world stage."

The strategist proposed elevating veterans, diplomats and national security surrogates to target suburban and moderate voters suspicious of Republicans destabilizing the global order, and he advocated for personalizing the impact of GOP budget chaos on federal workers and government beneficiaries

"GOP stalling on the budget is another reminder of their inability to govern," Madrid wrote. "Voters are tired of shutdown threats and fiscal theatrics. The opposition must make the case that we fund schools, protect Medicare, and keep the lights on."

The Congressional Budget Office projects Trump's "big, beautiful bill" would add $2.4 trillion to federal budget deficits over 10 years, despite the administration's claims about spending cuts offsetting tax cuts, and he proposed highlighting Republican disagreements on the budget and other matters.

"Internal conflict weakens Republican voter enthusiasm," Madrid wrote. "The opposition has a window to unify around shared values, drive turnout, and contrast stability with sabotage."

The GOP infighting isn't driven by the traditional "moderate vs. conservative" division, he said, but instead shows the fragility of the MAGA coalition, which he said was an exploitable weakness.

"While the Republican Party is tearing itself apart, the opposition should not stay silent," Madrid wrote. "This is a rare and urgent opportunity to define the contrast, energize voters, and set the terms of the 2026 conversation."