Democrats aren’t pointing fingers at Kamala Harris for the recent Republican victories in the White House and Congress. However, they are exploring various theories to understand what went wrong.
Following a week where many Democrats avoided appearing on Sunday shows post-election, particularly those from states won by Trump, Democrats, especially from Trump-won states, began offering their opinions on President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks and delved into the process of Democratic introspection.
Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) emphasized the importance of focusing on issues that directly impact people’s lives, such as their finances and children. She stressed the need to address kitchen-table issues and economic concerns as a starting point.
Ruben Gallego, a House member who won a Senate promotion despite Trump winning Arizona, echoed Slotkin’s sentiments, highlighting the failure of Democrats to connect with Americans on crucial issues, particularly the economy.
Similarly, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) acknowledged a messaging issue among Democrats, emphasizing the importance of addressing economic concerns to resonate with rural America.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) emphasized the significance of prioritizing working-class voters and addressing issues like poorly negotiated trade deals and the decline of unionization to regain support.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear discussed the opportunity for Democrats to push their agenda in response to the upcoming Trump administration’s Cabinet picks, emphasizing the need to focus on jobs, healthcare, infrastructure, and education.
Overall, Democrats are reflecting on their recent losses and strategizing on how to better resonate with American voters, especially those in working-class and rural areas.
