Despite a disappointing election cycle for House Democrats, the New Democrat Coalition feels good. The coalition is welcoming more than 20 new members — including several that flipped GOP-held seats — and now represents over half of the House Democratic Caucus.
We sat down with Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the incoming New Dem chair, to hear his take on the 119th Congress and the party’s minority status.
Schneider’s advice for Democrats to win back power? Spend “less time preaching and more time listening.”
“Understand that the economy is always the number one issue,” Schneider said. “If the people feel confident about the economy, all the other challenges become much more addressable.”
New Dems position themselves as a center-left, pro-business bloc that, in Schneider’s words, is “united in the idea of finding common ground and getting to solutions for the American people.”
But with Republicans controlling the House, Senate and the White House, opportunities for New Dems to exert power will be few and far between. As a Ways and Means Committee member, Schneider was realistic that he wouldn’t play a role in the reconciliation process when Republicans try to extend the Trump tax cuts.
Given the narrow House GOP majority, Schneider still thinks Democrats could swoop in if there’s internal Republican infighting.
“They’re going to have to go to the furthest extreme to keep the Freedom Caucus happy,” Schneider said. “I can’t imagine some of the more responsible Republicans who represent swing districts are going to be happy about going along with that.”
Schneider beat Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) last week for the top New Dem slot. The Illinois Democrat said he wanted to give the coalition “servant leadership” and “tap into the extraordinary experience and great wisdom” the group’s members have.
On the DCCC: The biggest outstanding question in House Democratic leadership is who House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will select as the next DCCC chair. Schneider said he would be pleased if Jeffries asked current DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene to stick around for another term.
“[DelBene] has led the DCCC with amazing skill. The amount of money raised, the team that was built and the lack of controversy over the course of her tenure is noteworthy,” Schneider said.
