Republicans are listening to voters. Democrats are not.

If we were, we wouldn’t send national surrogates from distant places to make campaign pitches or try to buy influence by paying musicians and creators to encourage voting.

Some argue celebrities play a role in politics, and I would agree — when they help turn voters into volunteers and donors. But we are the party of LeBron James and Beyoncé, and we still lost.

I traveled to Michigan before Tuesday’s election and felt, for the first time this season, subtle signs that Democrats may not win the White House. The first event drew a local crowd, thanks to efforts by Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign organizer.

Here’s the thing: people didn’t turn out to see Harris’s sister, Maya, or Maryland Gov. Wes Moore give speeches in Pontiac. They came for the organizer. She didn’t need national surrogates to advocate for her candidate. All she needed was chili, people from her community, and a DJ spinning hits from the 2010s.

Two days later in Flint, I watched my colleague organize another event, partnering with local organizers to produce a get-out-the-vote concert. I marveled as she negotiated performance fees with local talent and drew a crowd of about 100 — all while navigating the cultural landscape. Then the emcee took the mic.

“I’m here for the coin," he shouted,........

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