New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, captured here at the Democratic National Convention on August 21, 2024, asserts that Democrats must broaden their strategy beyond simply opposing President Trump to reclaim the House next year. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
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Progressive leaders such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have attracted large audiences recently while touring Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado in a “fight against oligarchy” tour to energize supporters dissatisfied with the current administration’s actions.
This tour is part of the Democratic response to constituents urging a more assertive stance as the opposition party. During town halls across the nation, Democrats recognized their challenges and are looking towards the upcoming midterms as an opportunity to establish themselves against Republican dominance.
However, the Democrats’ route to regaining control of the House of Representatives likely involves reclaiming districts that President Trump previously won.
Only thirteen House Democrats were elected in districts that also supported Trump, and for many of these representatives, merely opposing Trump isn’t sufficient.
“It cannot solely be about what we stand against regarding Trump and the issues surrounding him,” stated Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-NY.
Suozzi and other Democrats from Trump-supporting districts conveyed to NPR that for the party to retake the House, they must develop more than just a rebuttal—they require an effective new game plan.
‘The Democratic identity has suffered’
Suozzi won his seat in a district that supported former President Joe Biden in 2020 but shifted for Trump in the following election. He replaced former GOP Rep. George Santos in a special election after Santos faced expulsion from Congress.
He emphasized that the Democrats possess a tarnished image.
“When you inquire what Republicans stand for, people respond with, ‘well, Make America Great Again, they aim to minimize government, they propose tax reductions,'” Suozzi highlighted. “Yet when asked about Democrats’ principles, I sense some confusion – people recognize our support for choice and LGBT rights – which I advocate for as well – but I’m uncertain if that is sufficient to define an entire party.”
Suozzi remarked that Democrats ought to articulate a convincing argument detailing how they plan to enhance people’s lives, citing initiatives like raising the minimum wage as examples.
“We ought to pursue strategies that demonstrate our commitment to generating quality jobs for those motivated to work diligently,” he expressed. “This has traditionally been associated with the Democratic brand, and we seem to have lost that connection.”
He attributes part of this disconnect to the party’s excessive focus on identity politics and the elevation of extreme left perspectives.
“We’ve allowed political correctness to silence us on issues like the participation of transgender women in competitive women’s sports. We need to speak out on this,” he asserted. “95 percent of Democrats do not subscribe to the radical left ideals we are often associated with.”
Suozzi himself successfully campaigned on an issue that typically places Democrats on the defensive—immigration.
“I stated that we must secure our borders,” he recalled. “Consultants warned me that this is a Republican matter and suggested I avoid discussing it. I countered that this is indeed what constituents in my area are concerned about. We cannot overlook their discussions.”
In the new Congress, numerous House Democrats, including the majority in Trump-won districts, collaborated with their GOP counterparts in supporting legislation designed to simplify the detention and deportation of individuals without legal status facing criminal charges.
Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, seen at the U.S. Capitol in 2022, stresses that the Democratic party must work on expanding its coalition and reaching out to individuals who voted for President Trump in the November elections. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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The economy is still the central issue.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, the longest-serving woman in Congress, secured victory in one of the tightest races last election cycle. She asserts the Democratic party must extend its coalition and incorporate voters who sided with Trump.
“They heard President Trump proclaim, ‘Make America Great Again.’ It’s a sentiment that resonates with them, especially as they’ve witnessed factories shut down in their communities,” Kaptur remarked in a recent interview. “We must remain sharply focused on how to create more opportunities.”
Kaptur noted that while Democrats excel at defending existing programs like Medicaid among the public, they often fail to communicate their strategies for economic growth.
“I have various mottos that guide me, and one is: economics is not fate, but it comprises 85% of it,” she asserted. “Democrats need to step up and devise a plan for progress, especially in areas that have lagged behind, where individuals are seeking change because the economic system isn’t benefiting them.”
Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, a fellow Democrat, concurs. He represents a majority Hispanic district where Trump has gained ground.
He states there isn’t a “specific formula” for winning in battleground districts, besides taking the time to grasp constituents’ concerns—which may differ from the prevailing national trends.
“I learn from my own family background—I come from a working-class family, and I’m attentive to their thoughts,” he explained. “When we discuss what’s important, economic issues consistently rise to the forefront. That’s the discussion taking place in my home, and I believe the Democratic party should mirror these dialogues.”
Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, captured during a rally supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development in February, is tasked with recruiting Democrats for House races in the upcoming election cycle. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Looking for the next wave of Democrats to secure essential positions
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., is one of those assigned with identifying a new generation of Democratic candidates capable of winning pivotal races. He has recently been named a recruitment co-chair for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
“The battlefield is quite constrained,” he observed. “We need to rejuvenate our candidate pool and search in different areas. Constituents desire representatives who have entrepreneurial experience, served the nation in military roles, or worked in community positions, such as law enforcement or healthcare, who genuinely understand the struggles of not knowing how to cover forthcoming rent or mortgage payments.”
Crow has already seen success in this regard; he flipped his seat in 2018 and assisted in recruiting Democratic candidates with military and national security backgrounds who ran in the last election cycle for various offices. He reported that two-thirds of his endorsed candidates were victorious.
“A pivotal lesson should be that we suffer from a perception problem across significant areas of America, specifically in rural and working-class regions,” he remarked about the Democrats, adding that reintroducing the party in these areas is essential.
The fact that the next Congressional election will not coincide with a presidential vote presents some advantages for Democrats. Although constituents are expressing a desire for a prominent figure to guide the Democratic party, this creates its own challenges—especially when Republicans need to attract voters who previously supported Trump.
“I was raised in a conservative working-class household, and many in my family support President Trump,” Crow noted. “Thus, I interpret these dynamics through that lens. I firmly believe that no slogan, branding, or overarching message can extricate us from this situation.”
