Democrats still don’t agree on the seriousness of their political problem after election defeat

NEW YORK — Nearly a month after a devastating election loss that exposed cracks in the very foundation of their party, Democrats remain deeply divided over the extent of their political problem — or even if they have one. But for Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Labor-Farmer Party and a candidate to lead the Democratic National Committee next year, the election represented “a damning indictment” for the Democratic Party. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders irked some party leaders the day after the election with a scathing critique: “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.” “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change,” Sanders continued. We didn’t resonate.” Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid, a former spokesperson for Justice Democrats and the “Uncommitted” group that was critical of Joe Biden’s primary nomination, said Harris’ loss revealed that the party “has a major problem with bleeding working-class, low-information, non-college voters.” He notes that some Democratic leaders have responded with a collective shrug. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who announced his candidacy for DNC chair on Sunday, said Democrats must embrace a new communication strategy to connect with voters who don’t pay close attention to politics.