Yes, they are at it again. The Democratic Party is looking over its internal polling (if not in the mirror) and recognizing that a lingering challenge still exists. The party sees a gender gap in place as it continues to struggle with what some consider a core demographic: males. Make that, men. Manly men. The type of men who revel in things like guns, sports, drinking, building, and behaving with self-confidence.
You know, the type of person the Democrats have spent a generation degrading as being “toxic,” aggressive, and poisoned with testosterone. Well, The Atlantic is on the case to inform us that the Democrats have suddenly become welcoming — almost embracing — those burly sacks of hirsute carnivores.
And once again, the party is coming off sounding as if this effort is something they have workshopped after test-marketing. Writing on this at The Atlantic, Russell Berman explores the latest effort from the Dems, and you get the sense they have learned little in recent years. The problems start with the headline: “The Return of the Democratic Manly Man.” This becomes an unintentional admission, as the use of “return” indicates those dudes were previously pushed away.
The Democratic manly man is back, @russellberman reports, with the party embracing masculinity as a campaign strategy. https://t.co/81a5dkxZZv
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) July 13, 2026
📸: Amy Lynn Powell for The Atlantic pic.twitter.com/bbFws2299n
Berman then details how he was contacted by some Democrat Party wonk on this subject, and it shows just how out of touch these thinkers are in their quest.
I got a call from a party operative who pitched a story on the Democrats’ effort to "win back the manosphere." The operative ran through a list of a half dozen candidates in key House districts who "are engaging culturally in male spaces."
At the risk of aiding those who are doing just fine immolating their cause, thinking you are going to find traction with the masculine voter by using the term “manosphere” is but your first error. If you were to go into any sports bar during the playoffs and drop that term in a conversation, you would be exiled to a periphery table to sip your mango-kiwi seltzer in solitude.
Berman, to his credit, recognizes the confab nature of the Democratic Party's attempt.
That also reflects the sort of anthropological distance that points to the depth of the party’s problem. After all, an ironworker probably wouldn’t describe himself as “engaging culturally in male spaces.”
The article focuses on a number of candidates in current races who fit the profile the party is looking for: Former Army Ranger Jason Crow (CO-06), union ironworker Brian Poindexter (running in Ohio's 7th District), Bobby Pulido (running in TX-15), who is a guitar player with an affinity for guns, and Johnny Garcia (seeking TX-35), who is a former sheriff’s hostage negotiator. All sound like relatively competent guys, and yet, it says so very much about what is wrong with Democrats. The way these men are all presented as offsets — almost anomalies.
Let that detail sink in. Normal men are almost looked at as unicorn figures within the party. It seems rather believable that at some point it was heard inside the DNC offices, “Hey gang, we found one!”
Over the past decade, in part with the rise of President Trump, men have been both reviled by the Democrats and walking away with their votes. As a result, the party has shown that after decades of hostility towards those people “in the manosphere,” they are unaware of how we operate. Look at some of the recent efforts to draw regular guys back to the party.
There was the laughable “White Dudes For Harris” campaign, which was comprised mostly of effete Hollywood types.
Then there was the ad released that needed exponents for its levels of cringe to be measured. They cobbled together a group of “guys” from central casting and had them adorned in what was felt to be “typical” male attire (a cowboy, a biker, a rancher, a gym rat, and others), and had them act like men. Literally. These were all actors pretending to be “real men,” and about as realistic as the breasts on a bearded diesel mechanic cosplaying as a runway model.
This is what happens when those with no genuine affection for a subject matter try to appeal to those occupying that realm. They play to stereotypes and then present them condescendingly: “Those male rubes will LOVE this!” You can only imagine the committee cobbled together as they wrestled with the concept of appealing to males, trying to tap into the masculine mystique while straining to avoid mention of the Y-Chromosome.
OUTREACH CHAIRMAN: “Okay, for the next demo proposal, what do we think about the sport of hockey? It seems that could be an untapped segment of the manosphere. Let’s go around the room.”
“That’s a possibility. Does anyone here know any of the rules?” (Blank stares.)
“That is a rather physically intense sport — do we want to align with the violent tendencies?!
“A concern, but there is the Canada attachment, which could draw from the controversies with Trump and that country, right?!”
“Yes! And we could maybe tap into the patriotism, since both USA teams won the Gold Medal this year!”
“Oh no, NO! Recall the way that men’s team was embraced by Trump and taken to the State of the Union? We should steer clear of that attachment!”
“Maybe we could find another sport. What about pickleball? I have an uncle in The Villages who says their courts are packed every day.”
The male bonding by committee has delivered some laughable results. Tim Walz was sold as the everyman’s man, and his kickline antics on stage alone were a disqualifying presence. Then the man sold as a football coach who could not draw up a play, and displayed unfamiliarity with the sport (“That AOC runs a mean Pick-6!”). He was supposedly a hunter and then went Elmer Fudd in the field, as he could not even load the gun he was supposedly proficient in shooting.
🚨BREAKING: Governor Tim Walz fumbles while trying to load his gun during a pheasant hunt in Minnesota, aiming to appeal to male voters.
— Jack (@jackunheard) October 12, 2024
Wowzers….
They must really help struggling for votes.
Do you know any men that will be convinced to vote for Harris/Walz after seeing… pic.twitter.com/D8byaDoObU
This leap towards any ersatz version of masculinity led to the Graham Platner implosion, where the desire to present a blue-collar real guy was unraveled by numerous issues, including his insistence, and that of others, that he was “authentic,” as his entire bio appeared to have been fabricated.
That fiasco leaves Dems with the other prominent name for the midterms: James Talarico (vying for the Senate from Texas). Along with his issues and his political past, the other struggle being seen is with his manly bona fides. His campaign has had to push back against revelations that he has pledged veganism, a girlfriend was trotted out for camera time, and his professed “love” of trans children has led to speculation.
Meet James, he's a rootin' tootin' Texan who drives a Chevy in a cowboy hat and eats BBQ with a napkin.
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) June 2, 2026
As a born and raised Texan, I am definitely falling for this it is super duper convincing!! He's just like me! 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4lR1cfyCOt
What is revealing is that while the past stances on men are making things difficult for Democrats, the struggle is also seen with the real men who are managing to run for the party of toxic masculinity propaganda. Johnny Garcia shows that while the party has struggled mightily with the masculine label, the masculine candidates struggle with the Democratic logo being affixed to their campaign.
When Garcia campaigned in a Christmas parade last December, he recalled, he chafed at a decision by organizers to place a large Democratic Party flag on the truck he was walking alongside. “I was just like, Damn, man, we’re gonna have a pretty tough time walking this parade,” Garcia said.
The Democrats are having an even tougher time walking like a man.
Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
Help us continue to report on President Trump's successes. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member