How do Democrats increase midterm turnout?

[Mehmentum]

Let's be honest, 2018 could be even worse than 2014 if the electorate is the same as it has been in the past two midterms.

We have 5 Senate seats in deeply conservative states (West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri).  We have an additional 3 Senate seats in battleground states that are very vulnerable with a midterm electorate (Virginia, Ohio, and Florida), and 3 Democratic leaning states that could also be vulnerable with that kind of electorate (Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.)

Even more importantly are the results of Governor's and legislature races in Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois etc.  These will be a huge determinant in how redistricting plays out.  If we do as poorly in 2018 as we did in 2014 and 2010, we'll almost certainly be saying goodbye to the House for another decade.

I'm not willing to accept that.  So what do Democrats have to do to prevent a third consecutive midterm wipe-out?

[Mehmentum]

Sadly, I'm just not sure there's too much that can be done. Americans are by nature lazy, uninformed, and entitled. Unfortunately, the Democratic side suffers more from this affliction.

None of this defeatist attitude!  We can't just give up!

[Mehmentum]

Create some kind of nation-wide plan to run on. Focus on economy, not tidbits like abortion. Make it clear we want change and what kind of change it is. Moderate heroes don't win so there's not even a point of running away from Obama. Speaking of which, support Obama's policies and explain how they help ordinary people. Primary out corrupt and incompetent officeholders. Less attack ads (I doubt they help turnout anymore), run mid-term national conventions instead.

I had exactly the same idea earlier today!  They're basically just political pep rallies which is what we need.

[Mehmentum]

What is easier?
- getting the youngs (and therefore more non-whites) to vote in midterms
- winning back the olds (they Dems won the olds in 2006 and 2008)

Well, Democrats actually improved their margin with the 65+ age group by 6% between 2014 and 2010.

[Mehmentum]

Democrats need to stop treating midterms like they are any different from election years. That worked in the party system of the 20th century, but it doesn't work anymore in the polarized party system of the 21st century. They need to run national campaigns every two years. They need to write and promote a coherent national party platform, with concrete promises of what policies they will work to pass after the election if they win. The president needs to campaign just as hard as he does in presidential years. It might help to consider putting on a televised national convention as well, and national televised debates between the party leaders need to be considered as well.

I think this is the way to go.  Democrats spent this year running away from everything their party stood for.  I understand why they did it,  but its a flawed strategy that ended up doing nothing for them.

We won Senate races in red and purple states when Obama was literally on the ballot, so don't tell me we couldn't do it in 2014 when he wasn't on the ballot.