Booker Urges Democrats to Acknowledge Party Errors
The remarks from the New Jersey Democrat come after an unprecedented speech on the Senate floor.
TroibNews 
Sen. Cory Booker emphasized on Sunday the need for Democrats to take greater accountability for the chaotic early months of President Donald Trump’s tenure. This statement follows a record-setting speech he delivered just a week prior.
“We are in a state where, again, the Democratic Party should own up,” Booker stated during his appearance on ABC's "This Week."
“We partly laid this pathway for this demagogue to come into office and so, the way we deal with that, the way we correct from those mistakes is to do more of the centering of American voices, American people in our conversation and in our focus,” he added. “Not focus on politics, focus on people.”
Booker’s remarks reflect the sentiments expressed during his extensive, 25-hour Senate floor speech last week, which broke a longstanding record for a filibuster against civil rights legislation set by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957. He had vowed to speak “as long as physically able” to protest the Trump administration's agenda.
In his speech, Booker criticized several moves made by Trump and his allies, including federal budget cuts initiated by Elon Musk, aggressive tariff policies, and Republican proposals aimed at reducing Medicaid funding.
However, Booker did not shy away from addressing his own party's shortcomings, urging Democrats to prioritize their constituents over party interests.
“A lot of people voted for Donald Trump because they trusted him and didn't trust the Democrats could deliver for them,” he said in an exchange with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, a former member of the Clinton administration. “You may have this great analysis, great thoughts and ideas, but people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Booker’s push for Democrats to regroup comes amidst increasing optimism regarding the party’s potential success in the 2026 midterm elections. For example, in Wisconsin, the Democratic-backed Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford triumphed over her Trump- and Musk-supported opponent last week, preserving the court's left-leaning majority. Additionally, Democrats showed stronger-than-expected performances in two traditionally Republican Florida House districts, despite ultimately not winning those races.
"The Democratic Party is at its weakest when it's concerned about the party,” Booker asserted. “It's at its strongest when it's concerned about the people. When it's bigger and broader than any narrow political analysis. This is a time for Americans to step up.”
Earlier in the discussion, Booker condemned Trump's recent sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners, claiming the measures have already thrown the U.S. economy into disarray.
“I think he will already go down for a president having the worst first 100 days in the last century of any president that's ever taken that office,” Booker remarked.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
“We are in a state where, again, the Democratic Party should own up,” Booker stated during his appearance on ABC's "This Week."
“We partly laid this pathway for this demagogue to come into office and so, the way we deal with that, the way we correct from those mistakes is to do more of the centering of American voices, American people in our conversation and in our focus,” he added. “Not focus on politics, focus on people.”
Booker’s remarks reflect the sentiments expressed during his extensive, 25-hour Senate floor speech last week, which broke a longstanding record for a filibuster against civil rights legislation set by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957. He had vowed to speak “as long as physically able” to protest the Trump administration's agenda.
In his speech, Booker criticized several moves made by Trump and his allies, including federal budget cuts initiated by Elon Musk, aggressive tariff policies, and Republican proposals aimed at reducing Medicaid funding.
However, Booker did not shy away from addressing his own party's shortcomings, urging Democrats to prioritize their constituents over party interests.
“A lot of people voted for Donald Trump because they trusted him and didn't trust the Democrats could deliver for them,” he said in an exchange with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, a former member of the Clinton administration. “You may have this great analysis, great thoughts and ideas, but people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Booker’s push for Democrats to regroup comes amidst increasing optimism regarding the party’s potential success in the 2026 midterm elections. For example, in Wisconsin, the Democratic-backed Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford triumphed over her Trump- and Musk-supported opponent last week, preserving the court's left-leaning majority. Additionally, Democrats showed stronger-than-expected performances in two traditionally Republican Florida House districts, despite ultimately not winning those races.
"The Democratic Party is at its weakest when it's concerned about the party,” Booker asserted. “It's at its strongest when it's concerned about the people. When it's bigger and broader than any narrow political analysis. This is a time for Americans to step up.”
Earlier in the discussion, Booker condemned Trump's recent sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners, claiming the measures have already thrown the U.S. economy into disarray.
“I think he will already go down for a president having the worst first 100 days in the last century of any president that's ever taken that office,” Booker remarked.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
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