Thursday, July 17, 2025
Two weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at WelcomeFest, the nation’s largest gathering of centrist Democrats. Held in Washington, D.C., the event brought together a growing coalition committed to reshaping our party with one urgent mission: connecting with the American people again.
This year’s theme, “Responsibility to Win,” says it all. The American people are asking tough questions: Do Democrats hear me? Do they understand my struggles? Will they deliver real results? Too often, the answer feels like “no.”
If you ask most American voters what the top five issues they are most concerned about are, they’ll say: the economy, immigration, taxes, crime, and health care. If you ask the same people what the Democrats are most focused on, they’ll say: choice, LGBTQ protections, health care (fortunately there’s some crossover there), protecting democracy, and climate change. While all of these issues are important, the disconnect between what “the people” are most concerned about and what they see as Democrats’ focus must be addressed.
I was invited to speak at WelcomeFest because I’m one of the few Democrats who won in a district that President Trump won. I didn’t do it by hiding. I did it by showing up, listening and being honest — even when it wasn’t easy.
In my district, voters don’t want lectures. They don’t want candidates who message ideologically, technocratically or in a way that is simply out of touch. They want leaders who understand their concerns and take action to improve their lives. If you’re working two jobs and still can’t afford rent or groceries — or if your neighborhood feels less safe, or the border looks like chaos — you’re not asking for a white paper. You want someone who will do something and deliver real results.
I take that seriously. That’s why I backed the bipartisan Senate border deal. I said the border is broken — because it is. Not everyone agreed with me, but they respected that I was clear, direct and actionable.
That’s why, in Congress, I am working on bipartisan legislation to
1. Secure the border.
2. Fix the broken asylum system.
3. Reform the legal immigration system and legalize Dreamers, TPS recipients, farmworkers, health care workers and others who have been here contributing for decades.
Good ideas mean nothing if they don’t connect to the real lives of working people. Our country has seen enormous growth in the past 50 years, but so many Americans feel that our economy has failed them. They work hard, but struggle to see the fruits of their own labor. Millions of Americans are crushed by insufficient wages, rising costs and their inability to afford to buy a home. The middle class is disappearing.
In many ways, the American dream no longer feels attainable.
We have to do something.
I am for increasing the minimum wage, supporting union workers, and creating opportunities for more people to live the American dream. Everyone, whether a left-wing progressive or a right-wing conservative, should believe that, in America, hard work will be rewarded.
If you work hard, you should make enough money to buy a home, educate your kids, pay for health insurance, and retire one day without being scared.
But leading isn’t just about having the right ideas — it’s about meeting people where they are. Americans don’t want jargon. They want to be sure that people like me, who are elected to represent and serve them, hear their concerns and are doing something about those concerns by working with other elected officials to find common ground to get things done.
At the end of the day, voters want to know three things: Are you listening? Do you care? Will you work to get the job done?
Leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, have to orient their policies around values that unite working people: economic opportunity, fairness and the dignity of work. To do that, we have to first listen and learn with empathy, clarity and conviction.
That’s how I campaign. That’s how I govern. It’s not about the noise. It’s about the people. It’s about delivering real results that make working people’s lives better.
Let’s stop talking past them and start fighting for them.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
