Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) on CNN’s “The Arena” advised Democrats on how to campaign in the 2026 midterm elections.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: While the spotlight, of course, was on Mayor Mamdani today, it was not hard to notice the other Democrats who flanked him — Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and interestingly, Senator Schumer, who did not endorse Mayor Mamdani in the race. A lot has been said about what lessons Democrats can take from Mamdani’s long shot campaign win. So how will his time as mayor impact this year’s midterms and beyond? Joining me in THE ARENA, Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from the great state of Michigan. Thanks so much for joining. REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): Great to be with you. Happy New Year. SCIUTTO: You as well. You’ve been saying for a long time that Democrats need a Project 2028 to lay out their agenda. Did you hear elements of that in Mamdani speech? DINGELL: I did, and I think what we have to. It’s not enough for us to be anti-President Trump. People want to know what we’re for and how we’re going to deliver. So I think it’s very important we’ve got to start articulating what we’re for as we go into the congressional elections for 26 and presidential candidates are going to have to be very strong on that. SCIUTTO: His positions are going to be attacked by Republicans and caricatured to some degree. Do you think they risk making a mistake because some of the issues, beyond just that buzzword of “affordability”, things that he’s talking about controlling the cost of rent, impacting a lot of Americans taxing the rich to benefit working class Americans, there’s a lot of appeal for that among populists on the right as well. DINGELL: I hate labels. What’s the populist? What does that mean? I’m going to tell you how people feel across the country, and they can’t afford the cost of living. I think affordability is becoming a buzz word, and I want to talk about the people I represent have come up to me in the grocery store on Sunday mornings and show me what, how much something costs and how they can’t afford it. And I think a lot of people are going to try to label the mayor and a lot with, you know, socialism, whatever. I’m going to remind you of something. These problems are not isolated to the city of New York. Caregiving is a major issue across this country, and most people don’t know this. But my father-in-law was one of the authors of Social Security, and nobody can — and why did he introduce Social Security? Why did he fight for it so hard? Because seniors were living on the street. SCIUTTO: Yeah. DINGELL: They didn’t have any health care. He was called a communist. Do we think of Social Security as socialism or communism? SCIUTTO: Well, I hear you. I mean, listen, Medicare — Medicare, all these things were caricatured, and now people hold them very dear, Republicans and Democrats. As you know, the former speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is very bullish on Democrats chances in the midterms. I want to play her comments and get your thoughts on the other side. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS HOST: So if the Democrats win the House back — REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Yeah. No, no. When — when the Democrats win the House back, then they will. KARL: So how does the next Democratic speaker of the house deal with Donald Trump? What would be your advice? You’ve been there yourself. PELOSI: Be yourself. Just do your own thing. Just be yourself. Hakeem Jeffries is ready. He’s eloquent. He’s respected by the members. He’s unifier, and he will have — KARL: You have no doubt that it will be Hakeem Jeffries. PELOSI: None. (END VIDEO CLIP) SCIUTTO: Do you agree that Democrats both have the momentum and the right leadership to win in the fall? DINGELL: So we have the momentum. But you know, this is Debbie Downer you’re talking to. Although, Debbie Downer predicted all the elections correctly. We can’t take anything for granted. We have got to be. You — look, Hakeem Jeffries brought us together as we were fighting for health care for every American, which, as millions of Americans today are starting the New Year without health care or not knowing if they can afford it. We as Democrats are unified in the fall. People knew what we were fighting for and knew that we were going to do everything we can to deliver. That is what he is going to do as we go into the election cycle. But we as Democrats have to not do our normal thing and become Democrats divided again. SCIUTTO: Right. DINGELL: We can take nothing for granted. We are going to have to work our hearts and souls out and show people how we’re going to deliver until election day.

RealClearPolitics Videos