Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) is being eyed as a new leader in the Democratic Party since giving her response to President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress last week.
Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory, which saw him win the popular vote and 312 electoral votes, has caused pause among Democrats regarding the future of the party as former Vice President Kamala Harris garnered fewer votes in 45 states and Washington, D.C. than her predecessor Joe Biden did in 2020. Ever since, the party has struggled to replace Harris to lead their political future. MSNBC anchor Jen Psaki gushed over Slotkin in an opinion editorial after Slokin’s speech in response to Trump.
“Slotkin’s remarks proved to be a highlight of the evening for Democrats. She made it clear Trump has done nothing to further his goal of lowering prices for consumers. She focused on rebuilding the middle class and expanding national security, rather than cozying up to dictators abroad,” Psaki wrote. “And she didn’t just attack Trump — she offered a contrast. One grounded in an understanding of how Democrats need to prioritize working people to win in states like Michigan.”
“Slotkin showed exactly why she’s a rising star in the Democratic Party,” Psaki added.
However, while on NBC News’s Meet the Press Sunday, Slotkin acknowledged that her party is lacking a leader at the moment despite desperately needing change.
ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS TRANSGENDER ATHLETES DEBATE IS TO ONLY ‘MAKE SPARKS’
“I don’t think it’s a secret that Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election, right. I don’t think that’s, you know, something hidden. I think it’s on us to be clear about not only leadership — and there’s lots of leaders in both parties — but also a strategy, right. I think that’s something that, as Trump has been successful in flooding the zone and like every day, 15 things happening, we are still finding our footing. I think you can’t get better until you admit you have a problem,” Slotkin said.
Over 36 million viewers tuned in to Trump’s speech, which was too early to be considered a State of the Union address per the Constitution. However, four of Slotkin’s fellow senators opted to boycott the event entirely.
