The Democrats aren’t united anymore. Whoever can bridge the gap will likely take over leadership.
But Cory Booker’s last ditch effort to save the Democrat Party is utterly humiliating.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is scrambling to bridge the gap between Senate and House Democrats, a move that highlights the Democratic Party’s struggle to regain its footing after devastating electoral losses.
As communications chairman for Senate Democrats, Booker’s outreach to House colleagues reveals a desperate bid to counter flagging party support and emulate President Donald Trump’s media savvy.
Grasping for New Messaging Strategies
In a telling sign of the Democrats’ messaging woes, Booker hosted House Democrats at a Senate caucus lunch on Thursday to brainstorm voter outreach.
The discussion, led by Democratic Policy and Communications Committee members, focused on leveraging social media and unconventional platforms.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), a DPCC co-chair, noted, “We talked a lot about social media and the ways that we can utilize social media, and we also talked about doing more in person, but especially doing more when we’re not in D.C.” Booker’s push for platforms like Twitch and Snapchat, reported by Axios, highlights his attempt to mimic Trump’s “new media” dominance, including TikTok and podcasts.
Frost, the first Gen Z congressman, admitted, “More and more people are getting their news from people who are not journalists,” exposing the party’s lag in adapting to modern communication trends.
Breaking Barriers Through Cross-Chamber Collaboration
Booker’s outreach, including inviting House members to the Senate and joining House events, marks a rare effort to unite the often-siloed chambers. He conceded that a senator visiting the House is “not normal,” yet he’s prioritized collaboration, from an April “sit-in” with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to attending a House Medicaid markup with Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Tina Smith (D-MN).
“It’s definitely something that we’re just trying to continue that kind of collaboration,” Booker said, emphasizing shared constituent voices in an “existential moment.”
These joint efforts, including nationwide tours with Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) alongside progressive House members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), aim to project unity. However, the need to borrow House strategies highlights the Senate’s struggle to connect with voters independently.
A Party in Crisis: Addressing Flagging Morale
Booker’s initiatives lay bare the Democratic Party’s deeper crisis, as approval ratings hover near historic lows amid waning enthusiasm.
The party’s morale took a hit after Republicans secured unified control of Washington, compounded by a March funding dispute where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and nine Senate Democrats sided with Republicans, infuriating House Democrats like Jeffries.
Booker, the No. 4 Senate Democrat, has tried to rally the base, delivering a record-breaking 25-hour Senate speech in April denouncing Trump’s policies.
“I think when we all go to our districts, sometimes just Congress in general has a tendency to kind of, you know, be siloed,” Frost said, emphasizing the party’s fragmented outreach. Booker’s reliance on House insights and his push for joint events betray an embarrassing reality: Democrats are scrambling to rebuild a fractured coalition and recapture voter trust in the face of Trump’s unrelenting momentum.
