The answer is that they were not winning any arguments anywhere else. They had to turn to politics because that is where they can win by force. With its unique ability to apply force government might do that sometimes, but only after more civilized means of persuasion have failed. The people currently controlling both political parties use force because it it the one and only way they know. The Democrats do not understand science well enough themselves to persuade others to their views. The Trump base does not understand society well enough to persuade others to the "right" wing views they hold.
Consider Tariffs. Where do people in Maine get their oranges? People in Maine probably get their oranges from California or Florida. That is because different lacalities have important differences in what they can produce at what price. How do people in Maine decide whether to plant an orange, an apple, or a maple tree? According to something called "free market" principles, the kind of tree that earns the owner the most income for the least trouble will flourish in Maine. That might be a maple tree. Why don't people in Florida plant more maple trees? That is partly because there are already orange trees planted in the spots for maple trees.
So different localities have important differences in what they can produce at what price, and free market principles help investers decide what to plant or indeed how else they might invest than planting. The same is also true of different countries. Just as people in Maine will be less likely to invest in orange trees, people in a country where iron mines are far more costly to operate will be less likely to invest in iron mines. A person might think the Trump base, being so called conservatives and Republicans, would understand and practice free market principles, and yet they claim that tariffs will be best for the country. The reason they like tariffs is that they are idiots. When they were in economics classes, if they ever were in economics classes, all they thought about is where they will eat next or with whom they might have sex with next.
This recalls that when the United States was in conflict with communism in Southeast Asia the "right" could claim to be "right wing conservatives" without understanding anything at all, just following orders. They were fighters, not thinkers, and they still are fighters, not thinkers.
When I try to explain that "science" cannot help with most issues in society and indeed cannot even help anyone decide between communism and capitalism people, sometimes complain that yes there are "scientific" arguments that could persuade a person to one or the other. Of course they have not offered any such argument themselves. I might argue that "free market" principles are better at deciding which tree to plant, but an avowed communist might argue that the "science" of the length of the growing season, expected rainfall, other sources of water, minerals in the soil and so on could make a better decision.
I could write a book but I doubt many people would read it. There are just too many people who are stupid and hate me because I am not stupid. Perhaps Mamdani read my arguments about science and "socialism" (or the far left), but he does not admit that. His very big mistake is trying to be a "socialist" in New York City, and that city has almost no farmers. Trying to be a socialist with no farmers might not go so well.
It might appear that political discourse in the United States is all about "religion versus science," with Democrats fighting for science and the Trump base fighting for religion. The truth is that the Democrats are as far from science as they can get, and the Trump base is as far from religion as they can get. The truth is that there are important roles in society for both religion and science, and neither political party is addressing that well. While religion may not dictate public policy in the United States. it may and should advise public policy. Praying in public schools is not a good idea though. You can pray almost anywhere in the United States if you have the consent of any assemled crowd to hear you pray. There should be no praying in public schools that requires anyone to hear you. Maybe the Trump base was praying when they should have been learning free market principles.
The so called "creationism versus evolution debate" is not something intelligent people discuss much. It is for people who read at an extremely rudimentary level. It is people who take the Bible too literally and believe that versus people who take the Bible too literally and do not believe that. The Bible is replete with important messages which were never intended to be taken at such a low reading level. The Bible is replete with allegories, parables, and other indirect and artful language. Even today Darwin is only the big hero of idiotic atheist kids on the internet. Most people with any sense realize that for centuries before the Bible was written people were breeding plants and animals more or less wittingly. There is even a story of gene pool modification in the Bible in Genesis 30:31 to 31:13. Darwin did not add much if anything to that.
The important issue is not how a species might change over time, the important issue is how life began in the first place. Are you ready? Every agency in the natural world that constructs anything also deconstructs them. As any construction proceeds the chances of deconstruction increase. Rather early in the process the chance of deconstruction reaches a probability of "1" or absolute certainty. That happens long before any living thing is assembled. That goes for RNA chains as well. Unless chains match exactly, and they usually do not, they tear each other apart. You do not have to take my word. Get your own lab and try it. See how far construction goes for yourself.
I am aware that evil really exists in this world. I am not sure how it got in, but I know it exists. I am also aware that most people are not evil. It is not true that many Israelis are evil. It is also not true that many Muslims are evil. The number of truly evil people is extremely small and they might be in Israel and they might be in Palestine, but there are not many truly evil people in either place. There might be large numbers of stupid people who believe the lies they tell on each other, but that is something else, not true evil. I tried to explain here how they are not really scientists nor any political right, just people who follow orders to dominate without understanding any of it. It is also not true that many communists are "evil." Some people prefer the simple life under communism and some people prefer the abundance of choices under capitalism. It is only a matter of personal preferences and there is no science to it. Neither is there any failure of science to it. It is only the mentality of a child five years old that they are a member of the "good" guys and anyone much different is "evil."
Zelensky might blame Russia for taking Crimea, but no one can blame Russia for wanting a port on the Black Sea so close to the center of Russian civilization. In the mists of history Russia or that area of the world held a port on the Black Sea. That port probably played an important role in the developement of the area known as Russia. Obviously Trump is not going to end the fighting in Ukraine in any 24 hour period, will you, Zelensky? How long do you need?
You need to stop treating each other as "evil" and maybe learn a bit about sharing as well.