James Carville’s latest pitch sounds like a political fever dream straight out of a dystopian novel.
Fox News reported that on Wednesday, the veteran Democratic strategist called for drastic measures to cement his party’s control, urging Democrats to seize a rare electoral trifecta in 2028. His plan, cloaked in the guise of “saving democracy,” raises eyebrows for its audacity and risks inflaming an already polarized nation.
Carville’s vision hinges on Democrats winning the presidency, Senate, and House in 2028, then wielding that power to reshape the electoral map and judicial system.
He proposed adding Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states and expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices. This one-two punch, he claims, would counter systemic “imbalances” and secure a lasting Democratic majority.
“They are just going to have to unilaterally add Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia states,” Carville declared. But let’s be real: turning D.C. and Puerto Rico into states isn’t about fairness; it’s a calculated move to stack the Senate with reliably blue votes. The idea that this is about “democracy” feels like a stretch when it’s so blatantly about power.
Carville’s strategy doesn’t stop at statehood. He’s also gunning for the Supreme Court, pushing to add four new justices to the current nine. Packing the court, a once-fringe idea, is now being floated as a day-one priority if Democrats sweep the 2028 elections.
“They’re going to have to do it,” Carville insisted about court expansion. Yet, this isn’t a new playbook—FDR tried it in the 1930s and got slapped down for overreaching. Carville’s insistence smells more like desperation than a principled stand for justice.
The strategist pointed to Texas as a bogeyman, warning that its efforts to redraw congressional districts highlight flaws in the system.
But isn’t redistricting just politics as usual? Carville’s outrage seems selective, conveniently ignoring that both parties play the gerrymandering game when it suits them.
Carville’s rhetoric leans heavily on fear, particularly about President Donald Trump. He voiced worries that Trump might meddle with the 2026 midterm elections, though he offered no specifics. This vague alarmism feels like a tactic to rally the base rather than a grounded concern.
“The Democrats talk about democracy – the importance of preserving democracy and saving democracy,” Carville said.
But preaching about democracy while advocating for power grabs that could tilt the playing field indefinitely is a tough sell. It’s hard to see how this doesn’t undermine the very principles he claims to champion.
Carville admitted he once viewed these ideas with skepticism, calling them akin to “opening Pandora’s Box.” That’s a rare moment of candor from a strategist known for bold gambits. Yet, his newfound enthusiasm for these risky moves suggests a shift from caution to all-in political warfare.
“Any of those things in isolation, I would be skeptical about,” Carville confessed. His earlier doubts highlight the gamble: these proposals could backfire, alienating moderates and energizing conservatives. For a party already struggling to connect with heartland voters, this feels like a leap into the abyss.
Carville’s plan assumes Democrats can pull off a 2028 sweep, a tall order given the nation’s deep divisions.
Even if they succeed, pushing statehood and court-packing as immediate priorities could spark a backlash that hands Republicans a cudgel. The strategist’s timeline feels more like wishful thinking than a realistic roadmap.
Interestingly, Carville waffled on whether Democrats should campaign on these ideas. He suggested keeping them under wraps until after the election, which raises red flags. If these moves are so critical to “saving democracy,” why hide them from voters?
“If you want to save democracy, I think you've got to do all of those things,” Carville argued. But let’s call a spade a spade: this isn’t about fixing democracy; it’s about engineering a system where one party calls the shots. The hypocrisy of cloaking raw ambition in noble rhetoric is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
Carville’s proposals, while bold, risk deepening the distrust that already plagues American politics. Adding states and justices might give Democrats a short-term edge, but at what cost to national unity? A true defense of democracy would focus on fair rules, not rigging the game.
