Democrats Grapple with Rebuilding Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition as Tough Primaries Loom

Party leaders reflect on the legacy of the civil rights leader's presidential campaigns as they seek to unite a diverse coalition ahead of 2028 elections.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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As Democrats debate how to rebuild a winning coalition to take back power in Washington, many political veterans remember the insurgent presidential campaigns of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who mobilized a racially and economically diverse "Rainbow Coalition" of voters in the 1980s. While Jackson's message gradually became a romantic ideal for Democrats, the party's vision has frayed in recent years as President Donald Trump's conservative movement has made inroads with communities of color. Party leaders are now bracing for bruising fights over whether and how Democrats can rebuild the Rainbow Coalition and what they can glean from Jackson's legacy.

Why it matters

Jackson's Rainbow Coalition model was seen as a winning electoral strategy for Democrats, as evidenced by Barack Obama's diverse coalition of voters. However, the party's coalition has fractured in recent years, with Trump making gains among some communities of color. As Democrats prepare for the 2028 elections, rebuilding a broad, inclusive coalition will be crucial to regaining power in Washington.

The details

In two presidential bids, Jackson mobilized a racially and economically diverse Rainbow Coalition of voters that he said reflected the nation's inherent diversity. While Jackson lost in both contests, his message was so influential that it gradually became a romantic ideal for Democrats. When Obama twice won the presidency with a diverse coalition of voters resembling Jackson's vision, many Democrats declared the Rainbow Coalition the party's winning electoral strategy. However, that vision has frayed in recent years as Trump's conservative movement has overwhelmingly won with white working-class voters and made inroads with communities of color, both once core to Democrats' identity.

  • Jesse Jackson died last month.
  • Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 and 2012 with a diverse coalition of voters.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, mobilizing a racially and economically diverse "Rainbow Coalition" of voters.

Donna Brazile

A former chair of the Democratic National Committee and longtime mentee of Jesse Jackson, who began her career as an organizer on his first presidential campaign.

Rev. William Barber

A minister and longtime mentee of Jesse Jackson who serves as co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, a movement that calls for economic justice.

Steven Benjamin

The first Black mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, and a mentee of Jesse Jackson, who argued that Jackson's pragmatism was a key to his broad coalition.

Antjuan Seawright

A Democratic strategist who said the party needs to learn from Jesse Jackson's ability to effectively listen to and engage diverse communities.

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What they’re saying

“What Reverend planted in American politics were seeds that continue to blossom and bloom.”

— Donna Brazile, Former chair of the Democratic National Committee

“Reverend told us straight up that our patch was not big enough. Reverend began shifting his rhetoric from Black empowerment to speak to any of those who didn't have a seat at the table.”

— Donna Brazile, Former chair of the Democratic National Committee

“He served to challenge the party as a moral leader. He didn't spend time saying what he was against. He spent all of his time talking about what he was for.”

— Rev. William Barber, Co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign

“We have to learn, as Reverend Jackson and others of his day did so effectively, to listen more than we talk. We have to show up and hear from folks about what their priorities are, instead of showing up, telling people what we think their priority should be.”

— Antjuan Seawright, Democratic strategist

What’s next

Activists, clergy, and progressive lawmakers are planning to gather for strategy sessions on how to emulate and adapt Jesse Jackson's movement for the current political climate.

The takeaway

As Democrats prepare for the 2028 elections, rebuilding a diverse, inclusive coalition in the mold of Jesse Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition" will be crucial to the party's efforts to regain power in Washington. Party leaders must find ways to coalesce around shared values while also being pragmatic and listening to the diverse communities they seek to represent.