Since Election Day, I’ve learned two things about the Democratic Party: The word police will continue to patrol, no matter how badly we lose, and a growing number of us are finally ready to move beyond the party and start winning again.
I’m talking about the party’s increasing intolerance for opposing views and its failure to address voters’ fears. These are two crucial lessons I’ve learned as a member of Congress.
The latest evidence of this came from the backlash I received after speaking out against transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The harsh response only proves my point: the Democratic Party no longer champions free speech.
Voters want elected officials to give voice to their concerns, not tell them what to think. That’s why I’ve written this op-ed: to challenge my party to move beyond its current mindset and start winning again.
In the past, the Democratic Party wasn’t afraid of real, rigorous debate. We welcomed people with different opinions and listened to their concerns. We championed the causes of the marginalized, including the fight for Obamacare, abortion, and same-sex marriage. We were the party of free speech, but that appears to be slipping away.
I’m not saying we should abandon our values, but rather that we should have the courage to listen, to debate, and to include those with different views. The alternative is to stay locked in a bubble, afraid of losing votes and alienating our own base.
In the 2024 election, I believe we missed a golden opportunity because we were deaf to voters’ fears and concerns. We should have spoken more openly about issues like border security, crime, and the economy, rather than sticking to our party line.
We lost the White House to a candidate who did just that – Donald Trump. He articulated a vision, however twisted and unconscionable, for solving his supporters’ problems and addressing their fears. By not engaging honestly on these real issues, we gave the impression that we don’t understand or don’t care.
I urge my party to return to its proud history of working to solve the challenges facing working-class Americans, rather than telling them what to think or how to feel. Let us listen to their concerns, welcome opposing views, and win again.
