Former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan Calls for Complete Reboot and Rebranding of Democratic Party

Former U.S. Representative Tim Ryan from Ohio has urged the Democratic Party to undergo a significant overhaul, describing the party’s current image as “toxic” in many areas. Speaking on MSNBC‘s “The Weekend” on Saturday, Ryan emphasized the need for a “complete reset” and rebranding of the party following President-elect Donald Trump‘s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Ryan argued that the party has failed to appeal to voters in the political middle ground and has not offered enough to working-class voters. He suggested that the Democrats should focus on policies such as reindustrialization and American competitiveness, rather than solely on redistribution. Ryan also questioned the party’s stance against the crypto industry and advocated for a return to “bread and butter policies”.

Ryan cited former President Bill Clinton‘s campaign as a model for the party’s future direction, emphasizing the importance of growing the economic pie rather than just redistributing wealth. “We are going to tax the bad guys who are rich, which we want people to aspire to make money in America. We will tax them because they’re really bad people and we’re going to give you money. No, it is about growing the pie,” he said.

While Ryan’s views call for a significant change in the party’s approach, other prominent Democrats hold differing perspectives. Senator Bernie Sanders believes the party’s losses are due to abandoning the working class, a view that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disagrees with. Pelosi stated that the Democratic Party has not abandoned working-class families and expressed respect for Sanders’ stance while disagreeing with his assessment.