Democrats increasingly resort to profanity in an attempt to appear authentic and connect with voters, but a new analysis suggests this strategy may be counterproductive. According to a New York Times ranking, Representative Eric Swalwell of California was the fourth-most prolific user of the F-word on social media among lawmakers before sexual assault allegations ended his gubernatorial bid. Swalwell later responded to the article with a tweet: "Here, add two more to my name. Fuck Donald Trump and fuck Ice."
Profanity Gap Between Parties
Since 2020, Democrats have outsworn Republicans on social media by nearly four to one, using 197 F-words compared to Republicans' 49, according to the Times. In blue states, profanity has proven effective at generating media attention. At the California Democratic Party's convention last February, gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter led a "fuck Trump" chant, giving her floundering campaign a boost. Similarly, Illinois Lieutenant Governor and Senate hopeful Julianna Stratton aired a 30-second ad with six uses of "fuck Trump" before winning an upset primary victory.
Authenticity vs. Substance
While the Democratic base craves fighters and perceives profanity as a sign of authenticity, the strategy may undermine the party's long-term prospects. The Democratic party is widely seen as lacking an animating purpose beyond opposing Donald Trump, and swearing at the president reinforces that impression. Notably, the Democrats who swear most prolifically—like Porter, Stratton, and Swalwell—are often competing in Democratic primaries, not general elections. However, the Democratic brand is national, and voters accumulate impressions over time. In the Rust Belt, simply having a "D" next to a candidate's name carries a penalty of about eight points.
Proponents of profanity argue that coarse language reflects how ordinary people talk. Political commentator Jeet Heer noted in 2017 that the word "vulgarity" derives from the Latin for "the multitude." Yet popular Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani rarely swear, suggesting that vulgarity may actually be a sign of inauthenticity. Some Democrats appear awkward when cursing, as when Representative Maxine Dexter of Oregon told a rally, "We have to fuck Donald Trump," which some interpreted ambiguously.
Strategic Considerations
Decorum is not valuable for its own sake, and Democrats should do whatever it takes to defeat the MAGA movement. However, Republicans have largely refrained from using profanity, raising the question of what Democrats aim to achieve by swearing more. "Fuck Donald Trump" expresses disdain for a person but offers no policy substance. If Democrats must use the F-word, they should direct it at specific Trump policies. For instance, Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona tweeted, "What the fuck happened to America First?" after Marco Rubio suggested Israel forced the US into war with Iran. Maine Democrat Graham Platner responded to a denial of war with Iran by saying, "Fuck this. War is war."
Outrage is a legitimate political emotion, but it is not a politics. As the midterms approach, it remains an open question whether Democrats have learned this lesson. Alex Bronzini-Vender is a writer living in New York.
