Kleeb says 2026 Democratic wave proves local organizing beats national stars
The DNC vice chair argues that 2024's losses forced a necessary reset that allowed the party to win wide margins across the country this Tuesday.
By Michael Bennett ·
Jane Kleeb believes the Democratic Party had to hit rock bottom before it could find its footing again.
Speaking on Wednesday, the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee attributed Tuesday's wide electoral victories to a shift in strategy following the 2024 losses. She noted that the margins in many races exceeded five or six percentage points, marking a resounding win rather than a simple rebuke of the current administration.
Kleeb argued that the 2024 election served as a major reality check for the party. She said the internal divisions over the 2024 nominee revealed that the organization could not find its voice or effectively communicate its message. By 2026, she claimed, the party had repositioned itself as the group fighting to level the playing field, a message that resonated with Black, young, and Latino voters who previously viewed the Republican leader as a change agent.
The victory was driven by candidates who Kleeb described as fighters who looked and sounded like their communities. She contended that these individuals felt they had nothing to lose, which led to a national surge rather than a win limited to targeted battleground states.
Kleeb contrasted this bottom-up approach with the 2008 and 2012 cycles, which she said relied too heavily on a single charismatic figure. She noted that the party lost 1,500 local seats during the Obama administration because it neglected state and local infrastructure. She stated that the current success demonstrates that a team-based model works better than relying on a lead actor.
Despite the national wins, Kleeb acknowledged that the billionaire tax measure in California likely failed. She cited a confusing ballot layout that placed the tax and its ban side by side as a potential factor. She also suggested that voters may prefer other forms of accountability over new taxes.
The biggest surprise of the night, according to Kleeb, was the race in Mississippi. She said she initially thought the state was not ready for a Democratic win this cycle, but candidate Scott Colom is currently leading his opponent by a few dozen votes with 44,000 ballots outstanding. She credited his viral debate response and the grit of the local party for the momentum. Kleeb added that the party now has sufficient resources to maintain permanent infrastructure in all 57 states and territories, including traditional red states like Florida and Nebraska.
