AP photo U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is fighting an uphill battle at the moment.

Warren County and Pennsylvania have always had a balance when it comes to elections. Current Gov. Josh Shapiro is from the left, but during the 2024 Election, the state went right in backing President Donald Trump. In the U.S. Senate, there’s representation from Dave McCormick, a Republican and John Fetterman, a Democrat.

Within the county, it is no surprise Republicans dominate the major seats. It follows the historic pattern that rural regions are often more conservative than their metropolitan counterparts.

But there is no denying the current landscape has the national Democratic party in a pickle. It is mainly due to a lack of party leadership that has been missing since President Barack Obama was in the White House.

Though he did not carry the vote in this county, Obama was a rising star whose trajectory began during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. With plenty of charisma and confidence, he introduced himself as a skinny kid with a funny name. On that big stage, Obama scored plenty of attention — from both parties.

Twenty years later, any excitement that was tied to Obama is missing. Democratic leadership is lost — and Republicans are fully taking advantage of it.

Nowhere is this more evident than in a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll that was conducted last month. Results found that many Democrats see their political party as “weak” or “ineffective.” The survey also finds deep pessimism within Democratic ranks.

Republicans are more complimentary of their party, although a small but significant share describe the GOP as “greedy,” “for the rich” or “generally bad.” The poll asked people to share the first word or phrase that came to mind when they thought of the parties. Answers were sorted into broad categories. Overall, U.S. adults held a dim view of both parties, with about four in 10 using negative attributes, including words such as “dishonest” or “stupid.”

Those sentiments also often describe the political atmosphere of New York’s state capital of Albany, where a significant showdown could be looming between incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents eastern New York and the Adirondacks. Though she has yet to announce any intentions of seeking the state’s top office, Stefanik has not denied interest.

With high name recognition, Stefanik could be the strongest Republican candidate for the post in decades. Just this week, her office took on recent Hochul numbers and the troubling bail reform policies that continue to plague law enforcement in rural and metropolitan regions.

“The latest Siena poll is catastrophic for Kathy Hochul as she is losing independent voters to Elise Stefanik, is below 50% on the ballot, and only 35% of voters want to re-elect Kathy Hochul as voters are increasingly looking to Elise Stefanik to deliver new leadership,” said Alex DeGrasse, director of Stefanik’s campaigns for Congress. “Chairwoman Elise Stefanik will continue to focus on providing results such as delivering the largest middle class tax cut in New York history. She will repeal Kathy Hochul’s failed bail reform and dangerous sanctuary cities policies and cut taxes for New Yorkers.”

Solidly aligned with President Donald Trump, Stefanik is not just a thorn in the side of state Democrats if she decides to challenge a vulnerable Hochul. She’s a full-blown pricker bush.

She also embodies why the Republicans are in control of Washington at the moment: there is a game plan for moving the nation in a different direction than where it has been for the last four decades.

Not since the Ronald Reagan era has the U.S. been as confident and arrogant as it is today. That attitude starts with Trump and is followed almost to a fault by loyal Republicans.

It is unquestionably selling with voters and the American public.

Democrats, on the flip side, appear to have no platform. Previous presidential candidate Kamala Harris had only four months to prove she could be a leader.

What happened? She came across as uncomfortable in interviews and speaking publicly while Trump excels in getting his message across.

In that sense, he’s a lot like Obama. Even if you did not agree with what Obama was saying, he was masterful when communicating with our nation.

There is a desperation with the Democrats — even the most loyal of party members know that. It is a sign that while they believe the Trump MAGA crowd is too far right, the party from the left has to get closer to the middle when it comes to policies and ideals to gain traction.

Additionally, they need some conviction — and less complaining. That will have to come from a candidate who will be embraced.

During this time of turmoil, that is easier said than done.

John D’Agostino is the editor of the Times Observer, The Post-Journal and OBSERVER in Dunkirk, N.Y. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 814-723-8200, ext. 253.