I hear this all the time.
I get asked all of the time: who is in charge of Democrats' messaging and why isn't it better?
Sadly, I don't have a satisfactory answer to that first part, our messaging comes from all sorts of different entities. But I can tell you how I've won three competitive races in purple Orange County and how I approach messaging.
I've both run for office and governed on the principle that we need to stand up to special interests and lower costs for working people. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, or independent—nobody wants to be cheated, scammed, or price-gouged by big corporations, and so it's a message that's connected with all sorts of voters.
Before the 2022 election, some Democrats suggested we "don't talk about inflation because we don't have a good message on it." That's BS. My own approach was to take the issue head on. To not just acknowledge that inflation sucks, but to also introduce a bill that would have made oil companies' price-gouging illegal.
Democrats are sometimes scared to talk about our own policies for fear of turning off swing-voters. But my own election is proof that a progressive can win in a purple area. I've been straight with voters about why I support things like climate change policy or Medicare for All. And I've explained to voters why those policies would be beneficial to our community here in Orange County.
For me, getting to learn from Americans about what's working and what isn't, and getting to teach them how policies we create in Washington can help is one of the best parts of the job. It's one of the reasons I'm running for the Senate, at the top of the ticket I would be able to help Democrats flip key House seats in California.
Getting our message out takes serious resources, and that's why I'm asking for your help. Can you make a contribution today to help us reach key voters?
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–Katie
