Senator-elect Ruben Gallego of Arizona, fresh off a narrow victory over Republican Kari Lake, has offered sharp criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party’s handling of key issues. In a candid interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Gallego said Democrats failed to address the economic struggles of working-class Americans, particularly Latino voters, and relied too heavily on ineffective strategies.
Gallego emphasized that economic concerns dominated the conversations he had with voters in Arizona. “People were worried about the cost of everything,” he said, acknowledging that Democratic policies did not resonate with many working- and middle-class families.
He added, “Some of the frustration was that we were spending money, but not necessarily helping people.” When asked by host Jake Tapper if he was referring to U.S. aid to Ukraine, Gallego confirmed this was part of the issue.
The senator-elect highlighted a key lesson for Democrats: prioritize economic security for struggling families. “When people are hurting economically, they’re going to take care of themselves first,” he said, urging the party to focus on addressing the real challenges faced by working-class Americans.
Gallego, a Marine veteran and the son of Latino immigrants, drew on his personal experiences to explain why Latino men, in particular, have been drifting away from the Democratic Party. He described a deeply ingrained belief among Latino men that they can overcome financial difficulties through hard work.
“This election was the first time I ever heard many of them say, ‘I just don’t feel like I’m doing enough to provide for my family,’” Gallego said. “Until we focus on that and understand it, we’re going to have problems bringing them back into the Democratic fold.”
In addition to economic missteps, Gallego critiqued the Democratic Party’s approach to Latino outreach, which he said was overly reliant on Ivy League consultants disconnected from the community. He suggested that Vice President Harris bore responsibility for the party’s failure to connect with Latino voters.
“I think a lot of politicians didn’t want to hear what was actually happening out there,” Gallego said, noting that his campaign prioritized border security and economic concerns to appeal to Arizona voters.
His comments come amid mounting criticism of Harris following the Democratic Party’s poor performance in the 2024 election. The party lost control of the Senate, failed to regain the House, and saw Harris lose seven crucial battleground states to President-elect Donald Trump.
The election results have plunged the Democratic Party into chaos. Polls leading up to the election had suggested a tight race, with some even favoring Harris. The loss, particularly in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, has prompted intense finger-pointing within the party.
Supporters of Harris and President Biden have traded blame in the days since the election. Critics of Biden argue he should have stepped aside earlier, allowing Harris to consolidate support. Some party insiders claim internal polling after Biden’s weak debate performance in June showed Trump would win in a landslide if Biden remained the frontrunner.
Meanwhile, Harris’ campaign has faced scrutiny for its financial mismanagement. Despite raising over $1 billion, the campaign ended with significant debt, raising questions about its strategic priorities.
Prominent Democrats have weighed in on the party’s failures. Jon Favreau, a former Obama White House official and host of Pod Save America, said Biden’s continued campaign hurt the party. “Internal polling showed Trump would have won with 400 electoral votes if Biden stayed in,” Favreau claimed on his show.
Harris’ team has also been criticized for overspending during the campaign. Despite significant resources, the campaign struggled to mobilize key voter groups, including younger and minority voters, which were critical to past Democratic victories.
Gallego’s remarks point to a broader reckoning within the Democratic Party. To rebuild trust with working-class and minority voters, Democrats may need to overhaul their messaging and policy priorities. Gallego’s success in Arizona, driven by a focus on bread-and-butter issues like the economy and border security, could offer a blueprint.
As Democrats regroup for the 2026 midterms, the pressure will be on party leaders to address the concerns of voters who feel left behind. Whether they can rise to the challenge remains to be seen, but voices like Gallego’s suggest a growing recognition that change is necessary.
What happened? I thought he was harris.2. Another socialist berating a socialist. I don’t buy anything from him.
Call it for what it was, they staged a coup against Biden to get her in the race, fielded her as a weak candidate with NO MESSAGE , and most importantly, under estimated their opponent ! At least he is willing to admit faults in the party, rather than blaming “racism” !
Who could actually take anything Kamala has said serious, in answer to some serious questions, she either cackled or talked in circles that no one could make any sense of. I wouldn’t vote for her to be a dog catcher!