Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a congresswoman from Washington state, recently won reelection in a district that Donald Trump carried for the second time. Her victory in a predominantly rural area has provided valuable insights for the Democratic Party as they strategize on how to regain support in such regions.
Gluesenkamp Perez emphasizes that there is no quick fix or universal blueprint for Democrats to follow. She compares the party’s mission to building a bicycle wheel, where every spoke matters and needs to be in appropriate tension. She stresses the importance of respecting and valuing working-class voters, urging Democrats to stop talking down to them and to run more candidates with real-life, practical experience.
In her successful reelection campaign, Gluesenkamp Perez focused on practical issues that resonated with voters in her district. She advocated for making farm loans more accessible, using tax-preferred savings funds for trade workers, and giving consumers the right to choose where to fix their appliances. By connecting with voters on a personal level and sharing her own experiences as a rural resident and small business owner, she was able to outperform the Democratic vice president in both urban and rural areas.
While Gluesenkamp Perez’s approach may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for Democrats nationwide, her emphasis on relatability, practicality, and shared values could serve as a valuable lesson for the party. By highlighting the importance of authenticity, connecting with voters on a personal level, and focusing on issues that directly impact their lives, Democrats may be able to make significant inroads in rural and working-class communities.
As the Democratic Party looks to rebuild and regain support in areas that have shifted towards the Republican Party, they can learn from the success of candidates like Gluesenkamp Perez. By listening to the concerns and priorities of rural voters, respecting their experiences, and offering practical solutions to improve their lives, Democrats can begin to bridge the divide and reconnect with a crucial segment of the electorate. In a political landscape that is increasingly polarized and contentious, finding common ground and speaking the language of everyday Americans may be the key to future electoral success.