Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) highlighted Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper as three Democrats he sees as “leaders” in the party who are “stepping up” and prioritizing the people.
Booker told Jake Tapper on State of the Union Sunday his party “desperately needs new leadership” and he’s had “frustrations… with the Democratic Party for a long time.” The comments come after the Democratic National Committee released its 2024 autopsy report on Thursday.
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“You cannot lead the people if they don’t trust you,” Booker said. “And that’s what’s lacking right now with the party apparatus. But the people running out there that I’m running around this country trying to support, they’re building real trust with the American people, and that’s my hope.”
Talarico and Cooper are the Democratic Senate candidates in Texas and North Carolina, respectively. Talarico will likely face either Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), while Cooper faces Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman.
Booker did not give a direct answer when asked if he has faith in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin faced backlash from stakeholders late in the week after the DNC released an error-filled, incomplete 2024 autopsy that many felt didn’t accurately describe what went wrong in the election. Booker called for Martin to release the autopsy earlier in the month.
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“You are not going to win this election just by what you’re against,” Booker said, echoing the common criticism that Democrats solely center their messaging on attacking President Donald Trump rather than promoting new ideas.
Booker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has developed ties with the Make America Healthy Again movement over the last year. He is up for reelection in November.
