Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, voiced concerns on “Meet the Press” about his party’s approach to the working class. He emphasized the failure to connect with these voters due to Democrats’ continuous endorsement of “status quo establishment candidates.” According to Khanna, these candidates have been unwilling to address the perceived inequities of the current economic system.
“We do need to recognize that the status quo has failed,” Khanna stated, highlighting how the system has generated significant inequality and an economy that appears lopsided and unfair to many.
Khanna mentioned a Democratic National Committee (DNC) report, which reviews the party’s 2024 electoral defeat and broader voter challenges. The report discusses the Democrats’ focus on “winning arguments” compared to Republicans’ focus on “winning elections.”
Khanna argued that Democrats must maintain reason in debates while enhancing their economic message for financial stability.
“I don’t think we need to give up reason,” Khanna said. “I think Americans probably want reason debate in this country.”
The report also mentions Kamala Harris, remarking on the administration’s insufficient efforts to bolster her position before switching nominees.
Reflecting on Harris’s role, Khanna suggested she could have been more effective if she had broadly supported key economic initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the CHIPS Act, potentially leading to better outcomes.
Khanna insists the party must now engage more with working-class Americans, sharing their concerns about inequality.
“We need an economic message that actually is talking to the working-class folks who have been shafted,” Khanna said, emphasizing the need to address a “rigged” system.
He defended DNC Chair Ken Martin amidst criticism and calls for resignation over the report’s handling.
Khanna praised Martin for his stance against super PACs in primaries and his criticism of superdelegates.
“Ken Martin is a Paul Wellstone Democrat,” Khanna noted, agreeing with Martin’s positions.
While acknowledging Martin’s potential missteps, Khanna believes he should not resign but should strengthen cooperation with state parties for upcoming election cycles.
“Could he have handled this autopsy better? Absolutely,” Khanna said. “Should he work more with state parties into ’26 and ’28? Absolutely.”
The DNC report was commissioned due to the 2024 electoral losses and delayed amid internal dissent.