Press

Democrats are finding themselves mired in infighting and schoolyard sniping just as President Trump begins his new term. 

Biden’s last-minute pardons of his family members have sparked intraparty criticism.

And in Congress, Democrats are battling in the House and Senate over their strategies after their campaign messaging fell flat with the public.

Democratic strategist and ROKK Co-Founder Rodell Mollineau spoke with The Hill about what Democrats will need to do moving forward.

Conversations with two dozen Democratic sources reveal a party still struggling to figure out how they found themselves losing the White House and Senate and stuck in the minority in the House.

Prescriptions for a comeback abound: A more inclusive message, not just what plays well among activists and on college campuses. More spending on state parties and less on D.C.-based consultants. Serious investments in a progressive media ecosystem to rival the conservative one. A foreign policy that is as easy to explain as Republicans’ tried-and-true “Peace Through Strength.” Better polling. Less fear-mongering about the end of democracy. More podcasts.

Democratic strategist and ROKK Co-Founder Rodell Mollineau spoke with TIME about Democrats’ plan for the next 4 years and how to learn from last year.

Several GOP Senate incumbents are staring down the threat of primary challenges next year as friction builds between the MAGA and establishment wings. ROKK Co-Founder and Partner Ron Bonjean shared his thoughts with The Hill on senators striking a delicate balance between upcoming votes to decide on Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks and answering to their constituent base in their own backyard.

“They’ve seen the political combat Trump made, and his historic sweep of a Republican Congress and White House. And senators who are on the fence of particular issues will definitely be weighing that strongly: what their backyard looks like, how strong the MAGA base is at home,” Bonjean said. “It’s probably even stronger now.”

This shift is incredibly important when looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections with Republicans looking to defend 20 seats as opposed to Democrats’ 13 seats.

As President-elect Trump transitions into the White House, what does one-party control mean for Trump’s legislative checklist? ROKK Co-Founder Ron Bonjean shared his thoughts with PUCK’s Peter Hamby.

President-elect Trump plans to jumpstart his legislative agenda upon immediate reentry into the White House. Is this a gamble or a strategic first step? ROKK Co-Founder and Partner Ron Bonjean spoke with NPR’s Steve Inskeep.

Ex-post facto election commentary from Democratic National Committee (DNC) member, Lindy Li, is making headlines. Li’s criticisms of Vice President Harris’s recent loss calls the recent operation a “$1 billion disaster,” while also suggesting she and other people were given false hope that Harris had a chance to win the election.

But Harris’ presidential defeat might not be so one-dimensional. As Democrats parse through lessons learned from the campaign and ways to interpret last week’s results, Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic strategist with vast experience in presidential election independent expenditure efforts, suggests the party’s autopsy should be holistic and all-encompassing.

“We need to at least start off with an all-of-the-above approach to why we lost and how we regain our footing.”

Read the full story in The Hill.

President-elect Donald Trump has a long to-do list ready for his first 100 days, with a first-day focus on executive orders to close the border and slash regulations.

Topping the list of legislation is tax reform and tax cutting, including renewal of the tax cut plan he pushed through in 2017 during his first presidency. And with a new and more conservative Congress set to take up the Trump plan, companies around the nation are being advised to play ball and help, but also to look out for themselves.

“If you don’t tell your story, someone else will. Now’s the time to make a plan to be prepared,” said former Capitol Hill staffer Jeff Grappone, the Executive Vice President at Washington’s ROKK Solutions public affairs firm.

Read Jeff’s insights in the Washington Examiner. 

Democratic strategist and ROKK Partner Kristen Hawn joined Balance of Power to discuss the outcome of the presidential election and the future of the House of Representatives. See the full conversation on Bloomberg.

Republican strategist Ron Bonjean gives NPR a fresh take on Trump’s election success. Full analysis here.

Democrats for years have struggled with working-class, populist voters, ceding precious political territory to Republicans. This year, a slate of congressional races could help reverse the tide — or intensify it, even beyond Election Day.

Democratic lawmakers like Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana, and Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Marie Gluesenkamp of Washington, represent working-class communities and are running tough reelection campaigns this year. With Republicans’ tissue-thin House majority and Democrats’ one-seat Senate majority, their races are among those at the heart of both parties’ paths to congressional control.

ROKK Senior Vice President and Democratic strategist John LaBombard shared his thoughts with ABC News, providing expertise as a former Senate aide to red-state Democrats. 

He emphasized “the importance of having go-to figures in the national party where those folks can stay to their constituents, ‘we’re not just another national Democrat. We understand working people. We understand and can speak to these issues.’ And it helps the Democratic Party to be a bigger tent and be more appealing and less toxic to winnable voters.”

Read the full article including additional insights from John LaBombard on ABC News.