---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Democrats do fine in presidential…"
description: "\"The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.\" — Ruth Bader Ginsburg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg"
---

#  The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their…

![“The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.” quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg)

> “The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.”

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Democrats win national races but struggle to mobilize supporters for lower‑profile contests, leading to losses in midterms.

**In simple terms:** Voting turnout gap

Key Takeaway

Turnout matters more than popularity

Themes

electoral strategy voter mobilization midterm dynamics party organization political behavior

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

observation political commentary

When to use this quote

- campaign planning
- grassroots outreach
- voter registration drives
- election forecasting

Key Concepts

voter turnout midterm elections party strategy

Practical Applications

- targeted get‑out‑the‑vote programs
- data‑driven voter engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- How can parties improve midterm turnout?
- What factors cause turnout differences between elections?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Midterm elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midterm-elections/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/)

## Related quotes

> [Like a lot of people, I'm interested in public service and want to do as much as I can to change the direction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thune/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-interested-in-public-service-and-want-to-do/)

[John Thune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thune/)

> [You can't be too right too soon and win elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-romney/you-can-t-be-too-right-too-soon-and-win-elections/)

[George W. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-romney/)

> [I am voting in the midterm elections because I believe that when people engage with their local government, it reminds those placed in power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-am-voting-in-the-midterm-elections-because-i-believe-that-when/)

[Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/)

> [By their nature, midterm elections favor the out-of-power-party. Its voters tend to be more motivated to show up and swing voters are more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/by-their-nature-midterm-elections-favor-the-out-of-power-party-its/)

[Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/)

> [In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, American voters were forced to choose between a liberal Democrat and weak establishment Republicans. Democrats won both times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/in-the-2008-and-2012-presidential-elections-american-voters-were/)

[Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/)

> [As a general rule of thumb, Democrats do better in national elections when the year's defining issue is economic fairness, and Republicans do better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/as-a-general-rule-of-thumb-democrats-do-better-in-national-elections/)

[Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/)

> [The 2018 elections gave Democrats a landslide victory in the House and showed that voters are eager if not desperate to hold Trump accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/the-2018-elections-gave-democrats-a-landslide-victory-in-the-house/)

[Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/)

> [On any state elections map, the reservations are blue places. Native people are most often progressives, Democrats, and by no means gun-toting vigilantes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/on-any-state-elections-map-the-reservations-are-blue-places-native/)

[Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/)

> [Now that the midterm elections are over, President Obama has invited congressional leaders from both parties to a meeting at the White House tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/now-that-the-midterm-elections-are-over-president-obama-has-invited/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [Legislators could easily be out-voted if people voted in midterm elections. The fact that we don't talk about all this stuff \[ abortion rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/legislators-could-easily-be-out-voted-if-people-voted-in-midterm/)

[Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/)

> [All about midterm elections is turnouts. And turnout is measured by enthusiasm, intensity, how interested are people. And President Obama - candidate Obama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/all-about-midterm-elections-is-turnouts-and-turnout-is-measured-by/)

[Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/)

> [Tomorrow is Election Day. It's what they call the midterm elections, and you can cut the indifference with a knife. It's the day Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/tomorrow-is-election-day-it-s-what-they-call-the-midterm-elections/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Being clueless and out of touch is not a recipe for success at the midterm elections. But that only matters if you care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/being-clueless-and-out-of-touch-is-not-a-recipe-for-success-at-the/)

[Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/)

> [ I think that \[Barack Obama\] does say something that's - that is telling on that score, when he talks about the \[George W.\] Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-barack-obama-does-say-something-that-s-that-is-telling/)

[Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/)

> [Kim Kardashian tweeted that she is supporting President Obama in the midterm elections. I think it worked because all of the polls are predicting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/kim-kardashian-tweeted-that-she-is-supporting-president-obama-in-the/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

## More by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

> [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [I think our system is being polluted by money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-think-our-system-is-being-polluted-by-money/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [We will never see a day when women of means are not able to get a safe abortion in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/we-will-never-see-a-day-when-women-of-means-are-not-able-to-get-a/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [The entering class I joined in 1956 included just nine women, up from five in the then second-year class, and only one African American.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-entering-class-i-joined-in-1956-included-just-nine-women-up-from/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [If you ask judges, do you always agree on everything? Of course not, we divide just as you do. Why aren't you transparent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-ask-judges-do-you-always-agree-on-everything-of-course-not-we/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [One thing that concerns me is that today's young women don't seem to care that we have a fundamental instrument of government that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/one-thing-that-concerns-me-is-that-today-s-young-women-don-t-seem-to/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [It's a facet of the gay rights movement that people don't think about enough. Why suddenly marriage equality? Because it wasn't until 1981 that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/it-s-a-facet-of-the-gay-rights-movement-that-people-don-t-think-about/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had a life partner who thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-you-have-a-caring-life-partner-you-help-the-other-person-when-that/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [There are some singers that know exactly when to go, and others hang on much too long and that is the same, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/there-are-some-singers-that-know-exactly-when-to-go-and-others-hang/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [I would not like to be the only woman on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-would-not-like-to-be-the-only-woman-on-the-court/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/my-mother-told-me-to-be-a-lady-and-for-her-that-meant-be-your-own/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [In truth, I did enjoy the benefits of a Harvard connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-truth-i-did-enjoy-the-benefits-of-a-harvard-connection/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

[Explore all 200 Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

## More Democracy quotes

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/)

[Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/)

> [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_democracy_the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-el_77475.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm…” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ruth Bader Ginsburg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Democrats do fine in presidential...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
