Opinion: To win again, Democrats must ‘make life better’ for all Americans

The Democratic Party has to change. I know that. That’s why I ran for vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. 

But we don’t have to dictate primaries to create that change. We need to trust voters. And party leaders need to focus on unifying, energizing and equipping our nominees with the tools to win. 

Clearly, we aren’t there right now. The fights inside the party are often so loud we can’t hear the people outside of it – the people we’re supposed to be serving. And too often, instead of fighting for everyday Americans, we’re fighting each other.

But here’s the truth: I believe most Americans – Democrats, Independents, even some Republicans – still want a government that actually works for them. They want a party that doesn’t just perform politics, but delivers. They want a party with a simple mission: Make life better.

Better for the working mom whose struggle to pay the bills keeps her from truly spending time with her kids. 

Make life better – for workers, by making it easy to join a union, raising the minimum wage and passing universal paid leave. 

Make life better – for the young couple who wants a home they can afford, in a neighborhood where they feel safe, with schools where their kids can thrive. 

Make life better – no matter who you are, what you look like, or who you love. 

The truth is, far too many people no longer see our party – or our politics – as capable of making their lives better. We have to own that. And then we have to fix it. 

That starts by getting real about what’s gone wrong inside the party, and not just pointing fingers. That’s why I ran. And it’s the work I’ve been doing for just over 100 days.

There’s been drama – I know it, and I want it to end. At the heart of it is a procedural disagreement: whether the vice chair election followed Robert’s Rules of Order. A challenge was filed on Feb. 28, and it’s taken time because the Democratic Party believes in due process. We let people be heard. The Credentials Committee has a job to do, and I respect their role and their ruling. I’m frustrated – I received 298 votes, nearly 100 more than the 201 required to win. But I believe we should accept the outcome, quickly hold a new election that includes all five candidates, and move on – together. 

Because, as Nick Sirianni – head coach of the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles – likes to say: “Keep the main thing the main thing.” The main thing is making life better for the American people. Let’s not lose sight of that. 

I’m already doing the work. In just over 100 days, I’ve traveled over 20,000 miles across eight states – and even overseas to meet with our Democrats Abroad chapters – listening, lifting up local organizers and helping to sharpen our strategy. I’ve shown up to town halls in ruby-red areas and to big events across the states I’ve visited – meeting people where they are and making the case for how we win. 

DNC Chair Ken Martin has also laid out a bold reform package that would reaffirm something many of us believe deeply: voters –not party elites – should choose our nominees. That’s how we rebuild trust. That’s how we grow. 

And we’re backing up those values with resources. The DNC is now sending $1 million a month to state  parties – the largest investment in our history – so they can organize year-round, not just in election years. And we’re focused on hiring the kind of top-tier talent who can deliver our message clearly, respond to Trump’s lies in real time and help us build the durable infrastructure needed to win not just in 2024, but for the long haul. 

For me, the work is this: spending every minute of every day talking about how we’re going to make life better – and calling out Republican leaders for making it worse. 

Because while we’ve been squabbling, they’ve been scheming. They’re rolling back rights, gutting gun laws, and spreading hate. They are dead serious about power. We have to be just as serious about people. 

But no one person – or small group – can do that alone. This work belongs to all of us. Every Democrat, wherever you are, has a role to play. Our job now is to remember why we showed up in the first place – and let that guide everything we do. 

You want to grow the party? Talk to people who feel left out of it. Bring in new voices. Support local candidates. Knock doors. Run for something. Volunteer. Speak up. 

And to those reading this who’ve never seen yourself in politics, never felt invited to the table, let me say this plainly: The reason the party isn’t what it could be is because you aren’t here yet. We need you. 

The Democratic Party can be the political home for anyone who believes that life should be better – for everyone. Not just the rich. Not just the connected. For everyone. 

And if we center that – if we commit to making life better, not just saying it – we won’t just win elections. We’ll win people back to the idea that government can work for them. 

That’s the party I’m fighting for. That’s the work I’ve signed up to do. And I’ll keep doing it.