Well, folks, it’s not every day you see a Democrat torching his own party’s image on national television with the kind of candor that could light up a Colorado campfire.
The New York Post reported that retiring Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., unleashed a scathing critique of the Democratic Party on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, calling its national brand a liability for candidates across the board.
Bennet, who has served in the Senate since 2009, didn’t hold back in airing his grievances about the party’s repeated failures against President Trump and its disconnect from everyday working folks.
Having been in the Senate for over a decade, Bennet’s resume isn’t short on ambition—he even made a run for the presidency in 2020, though it didn’t pan out.
Now, just three weeks after securing another six-year Senate term, he’s announced plans to run for governor of Colorado in 2026. If he wins, he’s hinted at handpicking his Senate successor, which raises eyebrows about political maneuvering even among us conservatives who appreciate a bold play.
Speaking of bold, Bennet didn’t mince words about the Democrats’ track record, saying, “If it did, we wouldn’t have lost to Donald Trump twice.”
That’s a gut punch from within, and it’s tough to argue with the scoreboard—President Trump has indeed bested the Democrats in two national contests. For a party that prides itself on being the voice of the people, getting outplayed by a man Bennet claims couldn’t get hired on Denver’s business strip is a stinging irony.
Bennet went further, expressing fury at his party’s inability to keep Trump out of Washington, stating, “I’m also furious at the Democratic Party that has lost twice to Trump.”
As conservatives, we might chuckle at the chaos Trump brings to the establishment, but Bennet’s point about a party failing its base isn’t lost on anyone who values accountability. Turns out, losing has consequences, even if you’ve got the media cheerleading from the sidelines.
The senator’s frustration isn’t just about Trump—it’s about a deeper rot within the Democratic machine. He argues the party has drifted from the working class, failing to address shrinking middle-class prosperity and declining educational outcomes over the past two decades.
For those of us who’ve long criticized progressive policies for ignoring bread-and-butter issues, Bennet’s words sound like a belated wake-up call.
Bennet didn’t shy away from the ugly numbers either, with the Democratic Party’s favorability sitting at a dismal 34.7% against a 58.3% unfavorable rating, per RealClearPolitics aggregates.
Compare that to the Republican Party’s 42% favorable and 52.6% unfavorable, and it’s clear which side is winning the PR battle. While we on the right might celebrate this stumble, it’s worth noting that a weak opposition doesn’t always mean a strong mandate—it just means the other guy’s floundering worse.
The senator laid bare the disillusionment among Democrats, pointing to leadership that many feel has lost its way. He believes the party isn’t fighting hard enough on critical issues, leaving voters “sick of a Democratic Party” that can’t show how it’ll tackle real economic struggles.
Bennet’s vision, or lack thereof, for his party includes a call for a clearer alternative to the Republican agenda. He insisted, “We need to address those things,” referring to core economic and educational challenges. While we might disagree on the “how,” his push for substance over sloganeering is a rare bit of common ground in a polarized age.
On a personal note for Bennet, his gubernatorial bid seems tied to a hope of rebuilding trust at the state level, as he declared, “I see no reason why Colorado can’t be the best place in America to raise a kid.” It’s a noble goal, even if skeptics on the right might question whether his party’s track record equips him to deliver. Still, a focus on family and local issues is something any conservative can respect, even if we’re betting on different horses.
Bennet also emphasized the need for a “positive vision for our country,” a line that sounds good but lacks the meat to back it up just yet. For those of us who’ve rallied behind Trump’s unapologetic disruption, the idea of “positivity” from a Democrat feels like a soft pitch after years of divisive rhetoric from their side. Let’s see if he can walk that talk in Colorado.
Back to the national stage, Bennet’s warning about standing up to what he calls Trump’s “insanity” and “chaos” is a familiar refrain from the left.
But as supporters of the MAGA movement, we see that chaos as a necessary shake-up of a broken system—something the Democrats seem incapable of grasping, per Bennet’s admission. It’s almost poetic: their inability to counter Trump might just be their biggest self-own.
The broader picture here is a Democratic Party grappling with its identity, as low favorability ratings and internal disillusionment paint a grim outlook. Bennet’s candidness is refreshing, even if it’s coming from a place of frustration rather than solutions. For conservatives, it’s a reminder that our side’s gains aren’t just about Trump’s charisma—they’re about the other team’s collapse.