Much has already been said and written about potential threats to our democracy and the democratic process under a second Trump administration. However, while it is easy to look at the other side and raise concerns about the future, it would be wise for Democrats to “look behind the curtain” at what has already happened in their own backyard.

In 2020, after numerous debates that began in 2019 (remember all those debates?), the early primaries saw Joe Biden finish a distant fourth in Iowa, behind Buttigieg, Sanders, Warren, and barely ahead of Klobuchar. In New Hampshire Biden finished fifth, behind Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Warren. The third primary in Nevada saw Biden finish a distant second behind Sanders and barely ahead of Buttigieg and Warren.

Sanders and Warren have national recognition. Buttigieg and Klobuchar were relative unknowns in the political scene, yet were doing very well in getting votes and public support. Joe Biden had served for 36 years as U.S. senator and eight years as vice president. The career politician was struggling to gain traction and unable to stand out from relative newcomers.

Then came South Carolina, where Biden had a strong showing, easily besting Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Suddenly the other candidates were dropping out. Was anyone else surprised how quickly several candidates who had been resonating with the public and getting lots of votes and support were suspending their campaigns?

Despite all those debates, the Democratic Party was not unifying behind one candidate, not even the best known of the bunch, Joe Biden. Party leaders feared going through the spring without a solid coalition around one candidate. Worried that Sanders or one of the newcomers might end up gaining the nomination, but not be able to win in November, they felt it necessary to encourage newcomers Klobuchar and Buttigieg, and Sanders and Warren, to step away from the campaign. Democracy and the democratic process was pushed aside.

Harris wasn’t even in the loop at this point, having dropped out of the race the previous December due to lack of funding, long before the first votes were cast. Having been an outstanding prosecutor, attorney general and senator for California, she was unable to get the deep pockets in her home state to support her. Perhaps they know something we don’t?

Fast-forward to 2024. When Biden decided to drop out of the campaign, party leaders stated there was time for an abbreviated campaign among interested candidates with the nominee being selected by electors at the convention in August. Individual citizens would not have a chance to vote for a candidate as the primaries were complete, but they could express their support to the electors, thereby upholding the democratic process.

Instead, it was quickly decided not to leave it up to the electors, but to put everything behind Harris. Biden did not want to do to Harris what Obama had done to him (not support his VP for president), but he could have voiced his support for Harris and also supported letting the electors decide who should be at the top of the ticket.

Instead, we now have a candidate who did not have to do any campaigning for the nomination, no debates, no interviews, and did not get votes in any primary. Please don’t respond that a vote for Biden in the primary was a vote for Harris — only Biden’s name was on the ballot.

If Biden had long ago stated he was not going to run for a second term, there would have been a more normal democratic process of candidates campaigning, debating, and working through the primaries to be the Democratic nominee for president.

Where was the public backlash in 2020 when popular and supported candidates suddenly dropped out? Where was the backlash this summer when the public was given no opportunity for input in selecting the party nominee?

I strongly agree we need to protect our democracy and the democratic process. Let’s be aware both parties are guilty of disregarding democracy and the democratic process when it doesn’t suit a select few.

Dave Kirk lives in Northampton.