Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the Democratic Party needs to figure out what their message is after the 2024 presidential election loss, how to say the message, and where to say it.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) via online form for comment.
Why It Matters
Democrats have seemingly been in disarray since losing the White House, Senate and Congress after the election. Uproar over certain policies and uncertainty about which figureheads to get behind within the party have frayed internal cohesion.
It is unclear who the party will get behind as polling shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading the pack of potential presidential 2028 candidates, followed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Buttigieg.
What To Know
While speaking with host Andrew Schultz and others on the FLAGRANT podcast in a video that aired on Wednesday, Buttigieg spoke about the state of the Democratic Party and what could be done better.
“I do think my party needs to do a much better job, especially with the kind of finger-wagging that you’re talking about; I think we are like very prone to that,” Buttigieg said, adding that he has seen it on both sides of the aisle.
Buttigieg then spoke about the message Democrats should focus on in this period following the election loss. “Part of it is like where do we go,” he said. “To me, especially after we lose…our party or any party has this debate of like ‘what do we have to say and how do we say it?’ To me, there is actually three things we need to deal with.”
“What do we have to say? I mean, like, the policies, the ideas,” Buttigieg outlined. “If they’re right we should hold to it, if were not so sure they’re right we should rethink them.”
“Then there’s how do we say it. That’s the tone, the message, the style, whether people think you’re wagging a finger at them or not. Whether people think you get the kind of pain they’re going through or not,” He added.
Rounding out the list, the former Biden official said, “And then the part nobody talks about is where we say it. And I think right now where we say it is kind of everything.”
“It’s really important for anyone practicing politics, and definitely my party after what just happened to it, to be saying ok, where else do we need to be,” Buttigieg noted.
During the campaign cycle, Trump was praised for going on Joe Rogan’s show, while Harris did a segment with Alex Cooper on her podcast Call Her Daddy. Rogan then endorsed Trump right before the election, leading many to believe he helped the president secure the younger male vote.
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg can be seen speaking during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport November 21, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
What People Are Saying
Former Harris advisor and Democratic strategist Mike Nellis on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: “Anybody mad about Pete Buttigieg going on Andrew Schulz’s podcast is not serious about winning elections. You have to meet people where they are—not expect them to come to you. The question you should be asking is why your favorite Democrat isn’t going into the lion’s den and defending our values?”
Democrat Harry Sisson, who has nearly 300,000 followers on X, on Wednesday: “Pete Buttigieg going on the Flagrant podcast is a perfect example of what Democrats need to be doing right now. He flawlessly explained the importance of government research and funding in 2 minutes to a crowd that normally wouldn’t hear this stuff.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on X last month: “Democrats have no leader, no vision, and no message—other than profanity. Screaming about our popular America First agenda is not a winning political strategy.”
What Happens Next
Polling regularly comes out surveying who Americans envision leading the Democratic party and polling their favorability.
