Backbone

Why Democratic leaders don't actually fight for us.

On a chilly evening downtown, the streets normally covered with leftover remnants of the protests that have been roaring through main streets for months, are immaculately clean. The energy and buzz typically associated with election nights has a deafening silence. An anticipation of the election night results has everyone collectively holding their breath, leaving only the vibration of accelerated heartbeats filling the crisp air.

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t expect election results of the 2026 midterms to be filled with so much uncertainty. After all, generally there’s a pendulum swing in politics from one Party’s victory to the next. Yet I can’t shake the feeling this is the exact response on election night.

Much like the general elections in 2016 and 2024, there was an expectation by the Democratic Party to have secured major victories in Congress and the White House, leading to Supreme Court Justice nominations comfortably in their hands.

Yet, here we are.

Just a few weeks into the Trump administration and the reality of those flawed campaigns have led to change in leadership at the DNC…

Change? Change is good, right? (Hope and Change is better 😉)

It’s the first week in February and the Democratic Party hosted their meeting in Maryland to decide who will be their new team captain. An election I aspired to be included in, but as one DNC member would state “I feel there are ample and diverse viewpoints being represented.” and then refused to sign my petition to allow me to be on the ballot. A hilarious statement for several reasons. One, the top three leading candidates, all white males from privileged backgrounds. Two, of the other candidates, how many of them actually are working class, surviving paycheck to check and really understand the plight of average Americans? Somehow, the Party of inclusion forgot that inclusion and diversity of viewpoints isn’t just about headcount.

This mentality is the glaringly obvious problem with the Democratic Party. So much so it was echoed again and again by the would-be chair candidates. “The Party has lost connection with the working class.”

You’d think with their first official act to reconnect with the voters they resoundingly lost, they’d include the candidate that ran for President of the United States as “The Voice for Average Americans” (a title I wear proudly). Out of 400+ members, only four signatures were provided after several emails and text messages directly to each member, well short of the 40 required for this working class candidate to be allowed on the ballot.

Their first official act by the Party of inclusion was to exclude (cue Alanis Morissette -”Isn’t it ironic” )…but why?

That answer comes wrapped in a pretty statement by the new Chair of the Democratic Party, Ken Martin:

“We’ll only take money from GOOD billionaires.”

Thaaat’s right, the message of the voters was heard loud and clear. “We want you Democrats to only act on behalf of the interest of the good billionaires, not the bad ones.” It’s almost like the warning by President Biden about oligarchs having control over our country on his way out the door wasn’t heard. Or perhaps this furthers the notion that the Party leaders have not direction.

The irony laid out by Chair Martin and other Democratic leaders is that they’re establishing a Super PAC, House Majority PAC in order to establish “The Win Them Back Fund”, and with these funds they intend to form focus groups to understand how to address the needs of the working class. Aaahh yes, the “Give us money so we may understand why you don’t have any.” argument, a personal favorite of mine and my fellow average Americans. Truly inspired.

While this “new” direction is implemented, let’s not forget our fearless leaders already in office fighting on our behalf.

7:40 - “What leverage do we have? Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, it’s their government.” - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries


10:35 - “In about six or seven months, you’re gonna see such change by the time we start our campaigns in this fall, for next fall, you’re gonna see a very different picture about the Democrats.” - Nancy Pelosi

Feckless by choice? Or by nature? Regardless of the answer the result is we won’t fight right now…unless you pay us.

I take no joy in sharing this perspective, but the truth about the Democratic Party needs to be understood.

”They’re not here for you, my fellow Americans, they’re here for the money.”

They need to cater to their largest donors. This is why the Democratic Party blocked all Presidential candidates from accessing ballots in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and all non-millionaires in Massachusetts, handing the primary to an 81 year old man with obvious mental decline issues. Or why they blocked all challengers to Kamala Harris’ anointment as the nominee for President before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as per tradition. Why they prevented three of us candidates (who earned more than 600K votes in the primary from Democratic voters) from entering in the convention. And why Kamala Harris didn’t have her platform and policies available for the public until 30 days after her announcement, she had to get donor approval first ;).

Notice the recurring theme? Protect democracy by taking away your choice. Say one thing and do another. Or the latest poll tested comments about Trump helping his “Billionaire Buddies” by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, while he himself has accepted millions from his own set of billionaire buddies. How many more times will we accept this behavior?

Fine Gabriel, we hear you, Democratic leadership is corrupt, but what choice do we have? What can we do?

I ask you to stay tuned, as there is a blueprint to “Renovate America”. A cohesive message and north star will be laid on in my next article.