Do Democrats have a strategy to win in the midterm elections?
Democrats are prioritizing electoral chances over ideology as they regroup from their 2024 defeat and focus on victory amid shifting voter confidence.
Sen. Cory Booker said in a new interview that Democrats have “failed at this point” and appealed to the left to support new leadership to ease the nation’s deep divisions.
Appearing on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, March 29, the New Jersey Democratic congressman promoted his new book, “The Stand,” in which he writes that the Democratic Party has stumbled on administering “purity tests” to its members. Mr Booker argued that these formed a coalition “too small to effect major change”.
“I’m proud of a lot of the things my Democratic colleagues are doing, but collectively, our party is failing at this point,” Booker said.
Expanding on that passage from his book, the congressman told host Kristen Welker that Democrats must make a “generational shift” to bridge the bitter partisan divide.
“This is one of our greatest crises, and it’s time to envision a new vision for this country that is far more united, brings people together, and is less divided,” Booker said. “I truly believe that this is a time when we need new leadership, a new moral imagination, to unite our country.”
Booker added that the Democratic challenge is bigger than President Donald Trump and his administration, something the party and Booker passionately oppose. Last year, Booker protested the president on the Senate floor, delivering a 25-hour marathon speech airing Democrats’ dissatisfaction with the administration’s policies.
“He shouldn’t be the hero of our story at this point,” Booker said in an interview. “We have real challenges with new technologies such as AI and robotics, and we have new challenges that require greater national unity. And they remind us that we are not each other’s enemies. In fact, our ability to fund common ground has always been our greatest hope.”
Democrats did not rule out running for president in 2028 when asked directly. He ran unsuccessfully for the party’s nomination in 2020.
“I’m running for re-election,” Booker said. “I hope the state of New Jersey supports me for another six years.”
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
