Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin implied that her “war plan” to counter President Donald Trump and retake political control in Washington D.C. is not enough to retake control of the Senate — at least in 2026.
Slotkin, the freshman Democratic senator who led the party’s rebuttal to Trump’s joint address to Congress in March, acknowledged the party’s deep challenges to clawing their way out of the upper chamber’s minority in an interview with Politico published Thursday. Slotkin said Democrats should focus on retaking the House and that her “definition of success” for the Senate would be retaining the 47 seats Democrats already hold. (RELATED: Democrats Spent Years Running Their Cities’ Budgets Into The Red. Now That Tab Is Finally Coming Due)
Slotkin said the best-case scenario for Senate Democrats would be adding one to two seats, but that would still put the conference several seats short of forming a majority.
The Michigan Democrat’s candor about her party’s electoral prospects appear to directly contradict Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s promise that Democrats would retake Senate control during the midterms.
“We are on offense,” Schumer told Semafor Wednesday. “I believe I will [become majority leader in 2027].”
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (C) speaks alongside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) (L) at a news conference for the 9/11 Survivor Health Program outside the U.S. Capitol Building on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Slotkin’s attempt to put the Democratic Party back on a path to electoral success entails significantly altering the party’s perception among voters who rejected Democratic candidates at the ballot box in November.
The senator said Democratic candidates must change the way they communicate with voters to project strength and reject identity politics. Elected Democrats should stop being “weak and woke” and emulate “the goddamn alpha energy” of Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, according to Slotkin.
Despite arguing for a fundamental shift in the party’s messaging, Slotkin did not appear to call on Democrats to moderate their policy positions.
The lawmaker notably voted with Senate Democrats to block GOP-backed legislation barring transgender biologically male athletes from women’s sports and imposing sanctions on ICC officials for seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Senate Democrats were dealt another blow Friday with Democratic Maine Governor Janet Mills’ announcement that she has no intention of running against Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins. Some viewed Mills, 77, as one of the party’s strongest candidates to oust Collins.
“Fresh off Senator Durbin’s decision to retire and three other senior Senate Democrats calling it quits, Janet Mills clearly recognizes what the American people have long known: the Democratic Party is shattered beyond repair,” Senate Leadership Fund Communications Director Chris Gustafson said in a statement on Friday. “While Democrats reel from this recruitment failure and squabble about the direction of their party, Senator Susan Collins continues to deliver results for the people of Maine with effective and proven leadership.”
Slotkin’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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