Brad Schneider thinks the New Democrat Coalition is on to something.
In an election cycle that had few bright spots for his party, the moderate, pro-business caucus added to its ranks. More than half of all House Democrats are now members, creating a key bloc given Republicans’ narrow and unruly majority.
“I think it puts us in a really important role to try to look for that common ground and be that bridge,” he said.
Schneider took the helm of the New Dems this Congress after the previous chair, Ann McLane Kuster, retired. As many on the left debate their next moves and how to respond to the early days of the Trump administration, he sat down with Heard on the Hill last month to offer his own vision.
“I want to get a sense of the whole picture and respond in a more thoughtful way than just the visceral, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe he did that,’” the Illinois Democrat said.
“We will work with anyone who has an open mind. … I think the way we’ll improve our prospects is getting things done,” he added.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Q: What do you see as the path back to the majority, and how do the New Dems fit into that?
A: Well, 218 is the short answer. But the real key for Democrats is for us to do a better job of listening to what voters are saying, what voters care about, and responding to them with a vision of how we can address the challenges they see, and open up the opportunities they want for themselves and their families.
And New Dems are really good at that. I’ve talked about this a lot, but in a year where the tide kind of flowed out for Democrats as a whole, New Dems picked up 25 new members. We’re 110 now, and we have more people applying for membership.
So the path to the majority has always been through the New Dems. We’ve said the New Dems are the majority makers, and I think the way we’ll improve our prospects is getting things done, working across the caucus and across the aisle with Republicans, and just making sure we communicate it to voters.
Q: Does that mean you think Democrats need to focus more on economic issues as opposed to cultural issues?
A: I don’t think it’s an either/or. When I first started running for Congress [more than a decade ago], I said the economy is the No. 1 issue, because if the economy is strong then people are ready to take on other issues. And if people are uncertain or feel insecure economically, then we’re not gonna even talk about the other issues.
If we’re giving people a sense that we’re growing the economy, that life is going to get easier and they’re going to have a chance to get ahead, we can also talk about [how] we want everyone to have that better life and the American dream. And we don’t need to draw distinctions between whether it’s rural and urban, or where your parents came from or how you identify.
We need everyone on board. The difference now from 100 years ago is that the United States, while we’re still one of if not the most capable, most productive, most innovative country in the world, other countries are trying to keep pace or pass us, and we can’t afford to not have everyone working at their potential, pursuing their dreams and having a real chance at achieving them.
Q: Are you concerned about intraparty conflict? I know you’ve experienced this firsthand with protesters showing up at your house.
A: Well, that wasn’t intraparty. That was a bunch of people who were misguided and screaming at me, accusing me of turning my back on a situation I’ve been proud to lead on, trying to address the challenge of bringing the hostages home but also trying to find a path to peace for the Middle East. I don’t see that as intraparty.
To your question, New Dems, we know what we stand for. We know what we’re working to achieve, and we know we can only achieve it if we work with our colleagues in the Democratic caucus, as well as our Republican colleagues across the aisle. So I’ve made it a priority from the very beginning to sit down with, for example, Greg Casar and the Progressive Caucus and others, looking for that common ground.
Q: How do you bridge the gap between moderates and progressives that opened over the war in Gaza?
A: I think we will find success by staying true to our principles and values and, again, listening to voters. And I can use the challenge in the Middle East as a great example, and we’re seeing it with the current ceasefire. There are people on both sides who can do everything they want to undermine that ceasefire. But if we can get to a place where the ceasefire holds, where the hostages are returned, we make it so Hamas can’t reign in terror over Gaza, and the people of Gaza can rebuild and build for a future, and we can work with the region, building on the Abraham Accords.
I’m also a chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, and what I’d like to say is, find a way to break free from the gravity of history and chart a new path of peace and prosperity for the region. I don’t care which side of the political spectrum you fall on — if you believe in peace and possibility, that should get you excited. And if Democrats can be the voice of that, then we should be able to bring people to support us from across the political spectrum.
Q: Trump has been vocal about supporting Israel. Is that an area of potential bipartisan cooperation for you?
A: He [is taking steps to] declare the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, and many of us were calling for that last year. The Houthis have been not just attacking Israel with drones and missiles, but attacking shipping and affecting global commerce. When he does things that make sense, we’ll work together. But if he wants to turn his back on Ukraine and leave them to flounder against Russia, I’m going to challenge him and say, you know, Russia cannot succeed in its effort to use military might to conquer another country and ignore its sovereignty and its borders.
Quick hits
Last book you read? “Vision” by David Tatel. This guy lost his vision, led a civil rights office in the Carter administration and became an appellate judge, just a fabulous man. I had a scare [recently] losing the vision in my eye, which is slowly coming back, but I was actually reading this a few weeks before that.
Best friend from across the aisle? It’s important to me that I have a lot of good relationships over there, like Kevin Hern and other members of the Ways and Means Committee. Don Bacon is a close friend. And when we were in Utah skiing after Christmas, my son hit a mogul and shattered his tooth. So I called Blake Moore, and he helped us find a dentist.
America’s best president? I love David McCullough’s book about John Adams, and I always find inspiration. He often swam against the stream.
In politics, can the ends justify the means? No, never. I’m very much driven by my values, my upbringing. That doesn’t mean there aren’t hard choices along the way, but you should always hold to your values and keep your humanity.
Least popular opinion, political or otherwise? I love Kraft macaroni and cheese, and I have a recipe of mac and cheese with canned tuna — white albacore in water — and sliced canned mushrooms. I think it’s the best dish, but when I talk about this to people at home, they say it’s disgusting.
The post ‘Be that bridge’: Brad Schneider on his vision for the New Dems appeared first on Roll Call.
