Democratic Senator Michael Bennet sharply criticized his own party's national failures following two consecutive losses to President Donald Trump.

Democratic Brand Under Fire

Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, publicly expressed his frustration with the Democratic Party on Sunday, citing its inability to defeat President Donald Trump twice as evidence of deep-rooted national issues within the party. Bennet described himself as "furious" and argued that the party has failed to resonate with voters across America.

In an interview with CNN host Jake Tapper, Bennet highlighted the Democratic Party’s dwindling popularity, referencing several recent polls. A Fox News poll from April revealed a negative net favorability rating of 10 percent for Democrats nationwide. Similarly, polls conducted by Pew Research and The Wall Street Journal found that approximately 60 percent of respondents viewed the Democratic Party unfavorably.

Bennet stated, "I don’t think nationally, the Democratic brand helps very much anywhere. If it did, we wouldn’t have lost to Donald Trump twice. I know a lot of supporters of mine and friends of mine are furious at Donald Trump. I am… Furious at people they think aren’t standing up enough to Donald Trump. I am. But I’m also furious that the Democratic Party that has lost twice to Trump."

Economic and Educational Failures Highlighted

Bennet attributed voter support for Trump to a broader frustration with the political status quo in Washington. He suggested that voters elected Trump twice with the intention of "blowing up" a political environment perceived as self-serving and overly partisan. According to Bennet, Democrats have not adequately addressed critical issues, especially economic challenges and education outcomes affecting middle-class families.

He specifically criticized his party's failure to tackle persistent economic problems, including a shrinking middle class. Bennet emphasized that Democrats have also not adequately addressed declining academic achievement, pointing out that student math and reading test scores have still not rebounded to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. A September 2024 study by the Center on Reinventing Public Education underscored these educational setbacks.

Bennet said, "I think they’re sick of a Democratic Party who hasn’t been able to show how we’re going to address an economy where the middle class continues to shrink and where, over the last 20 years, we’ve actually lost ground in terms of the achievement of our kids in school. We need to address those things."

Despite criticizing Trump, whom Bennet claimed "would not be hired for any job" in Colorado, he insisted that it is crucial for Democrats to present a clear, appealing alternative to the president’s approach. Bennet argued that voter support for Trump reflects deeper dissatisfaction rather than approval of Trump's behavior or policies.

Bennet remarked, "I think it’s very important for us to stand up against the insanity that Trump represents and the chaos that he represents, and show that there’s something better. But, we should understand that there were a lot of people that voted for him for a reason, and that’s because they wanted to blow up Washington, D.C. They’re not surprised by his corruption, that’s sort of a ratification of who he is. And we need to show people something different."

Senator Bennet launched his gubernatorial campaign in April, aiming to succeed term-limited Colorado Governor Jared Polis in the 2026 midterm elections. His critique of the Democratic Party may set the tone for his campaign, emphasizing the need for change within his party to regain voter confidence.

Fox News contributed polling information referenced in this article.