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Last weekend, we hosted the second gathering in our New Directions for Democrats series in Las Vegas. Together, we continued building a movement outside of DC aimed at repairing our party’s damaged brand and reconnecting with working Americans.
Las Vegas proved the perfect backdrop for this conversation. Behind its glittering skyline, it is one of America’s great working-class cities — powered by hotel housekeepers, stagehands, restaurant servers, and rideshare drivers. It reminds us that today’s working class is diverse, resilient, and the foundation of our economy.
Over the course of our program, we tackled the big questions Democrats must face if we are to rebuild trust with working families. We heard insights from focus groups on the political challenges confronting our party, explored bold ideas to tackle the cost of living and create upward mobility, discussed practical strategies for fixing government dysfunction, and debated how Democrats can embrace energy and climate solutions that cut emissions while keeping fuel bills low.
These are tough conversations, but they are long overdue. What we began in Denver and deepened in Las Vegas is the foundation of a new movement for commonsense reform — one that speaks to the hopes and aspirations of working Americans and reestablishes Democrats as the party of upward mobility and national renewal.
Keep reading below for highlights and key takeaways from our Las Vegas event.
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The energy and insights from Las Vegas will shape our next conversations in Grand Rapids, Michigan in just a few weeks. We’re committed to getting out of Washington and engaging with voters and state leaders where they live and work. We look forward to carrying this momentum forward in our efforts to build a stronger, more connected party for working Americans.
Our New Directions for Democrats event in Grand Rapids will take place October 3-4. Space is limited—please fill out the form below if you’re interested in joining us.
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Highlights from New Directions for Democrats Las Vegas
To kick off the weekend, PPI President Will Marshall hosted a dinner roundtable on “Winning Back Working Americans” featuring Rep. Tom Suozzi, Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Claire Ainsley, and Lord David Evans. (Photos by Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent)
The next day, nearly 100 reform-minded leaders came together to confront the party’s biggest challenge: how to win back working Americans. Participants debated how Democrats can rebuild trust through bold ideas on the economy, education, climate, and cultural issues — and how to deliver upward mobility by focusing on cost of living, government reform, and real-world results.
PPI President Will Marshall opened the retreat by calling for Democrats to confront the party’s issues and challenge the status quo in Washington. He emphasized the need for the party to reconnect with working-class voters and the importance of learning from successful Democratic leaders in Nevada.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford highlighted the need for practical solutions to economic issues, including addressing prescription drug price fixing and energy permitting. He advocated for Democrats to identify effective messengers — especially those with personal experiences related to economic struggles — to communicate the their economic vision focused on lowering costs of living for working families.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar highlighted the importance of having a clear vision and plan to deliver for voters. He called for government to be accessible and easy to use in order to build trust.
“We need to find a way to start talking more as Democrats about being pro-American and trying to find common ground on issues.” - Fmr. Sen. Doug Jones during a session discussing PPI’s American Identity Project ([link removed]) , which posits that what Americans have in common — a national identity grounded in common political values — is more important that what divides them.
Rep. Susie Lee shared conversations she’s had with undecided voters, where they spoke about their economic struggles and dissatisfaction with current Democratic messaging.
Secretary Jennifer Granholm and former Congressman Tim Ryan led a discussion on the future of American energy and manufacturing. They outlined how Trump-era policies hindered battery plants, offshore wind projects, and grid expansion, stressing the need for new power generation and permitting reform. Secretary Granholm also pointed to AI and technology as tools to lower costs and streamline approvals, while Ryan underscored the importance of lasting reforms to ensure affordable, reliable energy for working Americans.
“We have to figure out how we're going to change our message, even though it's going to piss off some of our friends, but it's the only way we're going to turn things around.” - Rep. Tom Suozzi
“The polling shows people are frustrated. There isn’t a single messenger or cohesive message for the Democratic Party right now. That’s fine in an off-year, but next year is about winning 25 or 30 congressional seats to take back the majority. The people who can win those tough races are the ones who share the agenda we’re talking about today and who are the strongest candidates we have.” - Rep. Greg Stanton
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