Democrats gathered in Denver this week for a conference balancing celebration of their best electoral performance since Watergate with a sober planning session on how to deliver for voters. Rising stars, lawmakers and potential presidential contenders discussed the party's path forward, with an emphasis on earning back trust and tackling legislation.
The 'What's Next' conference, hosted by Majority Democrats, brought together rising stars, strategists and party leaders at a concert hall adorned with artwork of Democratic heavyweights. Speakers warned against assuming voters had fully embraced the party and against drawing the wrong lessons from the results.
Rep. Jason Crow, a party recruitment co-chair, urged caution. 'It took us decades to dig ourselves in a hole and to push people away from us, and it's going to take us more than one cycle to earn that trust,' he said.
Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, criticised the party for not investing more in the South and in Black voters. 'When we say that Black voters are the base of our party, then I ask why are we not investing in a region of the country that on Tuesday night just proved everybody wrong of what is possible,' she said.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Democrats can learn from the current White House, saying the party needs a 'bias towards action' and a plan for the long term. He called for a rapid succession of bills to lower the cost of living.
Presumptive next Speaker Hakeem Jeffries outlined a robust agenda including reversing Medicaid cuts, banning congressional stock trading and mid-decade redistricting, and establishing a statutory right to abortion.
Democrats debated whether and how to work with President Trump. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said she would put Trump's name on something if that would get it through. 'The American people cannot wait two years for change, so we must work with President Trump,' Talarico said.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill added a note of caution, describing Trump as a bad faith actor who 'never delivers'. She advised Talarico that if Trump wanted to work with Democrats, they would lay out the agenda for him to sign.
Several potential presidential contenders, including Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, spoke at the conference, though none announced an official run.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The internal debate between pragmatism and confrontation will shape the legislative strategy of the new Democratic majority.
- The party's decisions on working with President Trump will determine its ability to pass a popular agenda and protect its gains.
- Emerging messaging priorities signal the party's new equilibrium ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Background
The 2026 midterm elections gave Democrats unified control of Congress and strong gains across the country, including governorships in states like Iowa. The 'What's Next' conference, hosted by Majority Democrats, was planned as a routine strategy session but became a celebration of what attendees described as the party's best performance since Watergate.
Key Perspectives
Jason Crow: Says the party should not view the result as a full embrace of Democrats, warning it will take more than one cycle to earn back trust lost over decades.
Anderson Clayton: Argues the party did not invest enough in the South and among Black voters, its base, and must run towards communities it has previously avoided.
Pete Buttigieg: Urges the party to avoid complacency and adopt a 'bias towards action' combined with a long-term plan, focusing on lowering the cost of living.
Elissa Slotkin and James Talarico: Advocate working with President Trump to deliver immediate results, with Talarico saying the country cannot wait two years for change.
Mikie Sherrill: Cautions against trusting Trump, describing him as a bad-faith negotiator who takes without delivering.
What to Watch
- The specific legislative agenda Hakeem Jeffries brings to the floor, including the priorities he outlined at the conference.
- How the party navigates the divide between cooperation and confrontation with the Trump White House.
- The early positioning of the several 2028 presidential candidates who used the conference to test their messages.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedDemocrats charted a path ahead after their midterm wins.OPB: “After midterm wins, Democrats turn to charting path ahead.”
- SupportedDemocrats debated cooperation with Trump at the party conference.OPB: “Throughout the conference, Democrats debated whether and how to work with the Trump administration in order to deliver meaningful change for voters.”
- Partly supportedDemocrats gathered in Denver this week.OPB: “DENVER — Democrats descended on Denver for a two-day conference”
- SupportedThe conference followed Democrats’ best electoral performance since Watergate.OPB: “Democrats outperformed expectations with their best electoral performance since Watergate.”
- SupportedSpeakers emphasized earning back voters’ trust and taking legislative action.OPB: “The overwhelming emphasis from speakers was that Democrats have to earn back trust.”
- SupportedJason Crow said, “It took us decades to dig ourselves in a hole and to push people away from us, and it's going to take us more than one cycle to earn that trust.”OPB: ““It took us decades to dig ourselves in a hole and to push people away from us, and it’s going to take us more than one cycle to earn that trust,” said Crow”
- SupportedAnderson Clayton said, “When we say that Black voters are the base of our party, then I ask why are we not investing in a region of the country that on Tuesday night just proved everybody wrong of what is possible.”OPB: ““When we say that Black voters are the base of our party, then I ask why are we not investing in a region of the country that on Tuesday night just proved everybody wrong of what is possible,” said Clayton”
- SupportedButtigieg said Democrats need a “bias towards action” and readiness to plan for the long term.OPB: ““a bias towards action and a readiness to get things done coming out of the gate and at the very same time a readiness to plan for the long-term,””
- SupportedJeffries outlined an agenda including reversing Medicaid cuts, banning congressional stock trading and mid-decade redistricting, and establishing a statutory right to abortion.OPB: “a robust agenda that includes reversing Medicaid cuts, banning congressional stock trading and mid-decade redistricting, establishing a statutory right to abortion”
- SupportedSlotkin said she would put Trump’s name on something if that would get it through.OPB: ““If slapping Trump’s name on it and putting it in gold letters would get it through — hell yes, I would do that,” said Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin.”
- SupportedTalarico said, “The American people cannot wait two years for change, so we must work with President Trump.”OPB: ““The American people cannot wait two years for change, so we must work with President Trump,” Talarico said.”
- SupportedSherrill described Trump as a bad-faith actor who “never delivers.”OPB: “describing the president as a bad faith actor. “The art of the deal to Trump is he figures out what you want, he leverages the you know what out of you, and keeps taking, taking, taking, and never delivers,” Sherrill said.”