A retiring Democratic senator is “furious” at his own party and suggested that its brand isn’t helpful almost anywhere in the country for candidates seeking national office.
Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), who is vying for governor in 2026, voiced his astonishment at the Democratic Party’s failure to beat President Trump and heavily implied that the brand is toxic.
“I don’t think nationally the Democratic brand helps very much anywhere,” Bennett told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday when asked about the party’s standing. “If it did, we wouldn’t have lost to Donald Trump twice.”
I’m also furious at the Democratic Party that has lost twice to Trump. Donald Trump could not get appointed to any job in the state of Colorado,” Bennett added.
“He couldn’t get hired on 17th Street, which is our business street here in Denver, Colorado. But he’s been sent to Washington twice to blow the place up.”
Democrats are still reeling from their losses in the 2024 election cycle and have been battered by a series of polls showing the party with low favorability.
The party has a 34.7% favorable to 58.3% unfavorable rating, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate. Republicans, by contrast, are at 42% favorable to 52.6% unfavorable, per RCP.
A key factor in the Democrats’ low favorability is the fact that many Dems are disillusioned with the party’s leadership. Bennet surmised that’s because the party has lost its working-class roots and there’s a belief that the party is fighting hard enough.
“I think they’re sick of a Democratic Party who hasn’t been able to show how we’re going to address an economy where the middle class continues to shrink and where over the last 20 years we have actually lost ground in terms of the achievement of our kids in school,” Bennett posited.
Bennett, who vied unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2020, has served in the Senate since 2009. About three weeks after being reelected to the upper chamber for a six-year term, he announced plans to seek the governor’s office.
The Colorado senator has also suggested that he would handpick and appoint his successor if he wins the governor’s office.
Bennett also contended that Democrats need to focus on giving the American people a clearer alternative to the GOP agenda.
“We need to address those things,” he said. “So I think it’s very important for us to stand up against the insanity that Trump represents and the chaos that he represents and show that there’s something better.
“I see no reason why Colorado can’t be the best place in America to raise a kid. And that’s why I have decided to run for governor here,” he added. “It’s also important to have that positive vision for our country.”
