Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) expressed concerns that Democrats have failed to fully recognize the importance of their election losses last week, arguing the party should have performed better across all levels but instead experienced defeats.
Appearing on “CNN This Morning” Friday, Moulton stated, “Many Democrats, especially in the House, are rationalizing our performance by comparing it to how Vice President Harris did. But let’s put this in perspective.”
He emphasized that the GOP had been embroiled in internal divisions, with the Trump faction clashing with traditional Republicans over the past year, culminating in a House leadership struggle that delayed the election of a Speaker for three weeks.
“Easiest election of our lifetime,” yet Democrats faltered, says Moulton
“This party is led by a convicted felon,” he added, suggesting that Democrats had a unique opportunity for success. “We should have had the easiest election of our lifetime. From the presidency down to the local school board, we should have swept this, but instead, we lost across the board.”
Moulton, who has been critical of his party’s performance in the result of the 2024 presidential election, pointed to President-elect Trump’s victory over Vice President Harris and the GOP maintaining control of the House and flipping the Senate as signs of the Democratic Party’s shortcomings.
His comments have sparked backlash, especially following his statements on transgender athletes, which led to the resignation of his campaign manager after he claimed Democrats overfocus on identity politics.
“Democrats are too concerned with not offending anyone instead of being honest about the issues many Americans face,” Moulton explained to The New York Times. He added, “I have two little girls, and I don’t want them to be overpowered by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
Moulton stood by his remarks over the weekend, stating that the backlash demonstrated the party’s unwillingness to have candid discussions. He suggested that this was a clear sign of how the Democratic Party has become disconnected from the broader American electorate. “It completely proves my point,” he said. “We’re so focused on policing our words and avoiding debates on difficult issues that we’re simply losing on them.”
The Massachusetts lawmaker was one of several Democrats who voiced frustration about the party’s performance in the recent elections. Some have argued that the party has abandoned the working class, while others point to the far-left’s influence in shaping the party’s image, which eventually hurt its standing with voters in November.
Moulton reaffirmed his stance, saying, “We’re the party that stands up for minorities when they’re under attack by Republicans.” He continued, “But we’re unwilling to debate policies that could resonate with the American people, policies that would not only help us win back power in Washington but also allow us to protect minorities and secure electoral victories.”
