1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

We are coming through one of the darkest periods in modern American history, brought about in large part by corrupt politics and leadership that has repeatedly put its own interests ahead of the American people. We voted overwhelmingly for real change, and that change must include the leadership, direction, and political playbook of the Democratic Party itself The message from voters was not a call to return to business as usual. It was a call for a new generation of leadership, new priorities, and an end to the political establishment that has spent years enriching and entrenching itself at the public's expense. The Democratic Party should not assume that Hakeem Jeffries or Chuck Schumer represent that fresh start. They are part of the old guard, and their ties to AIPAC and entrenched political interests are precisely the kind of relationships voters are demanding we move beyond. We did not deliver such a decisive electoral mandate because we wanted more of the same. We voted for candidates who represent fresh energy, bold ideas, and meaningful change, and we expect our party's leadership to reflect that direction. The Democratic Party needs to answer the call, not resist it. We must do better, and voters deserve better.