The Democratic Party faces an identity crisis as President Trump's approval hits a new low, yet the party remains unpopular less than two years after a catastrophic election. The article argues Democrats should let a diverse array of candidates lead in the midterms rather than relying on the establishment. In Iowa, centrist Rob Sand calls the two-party system "broken." In New York City, leftist Zohran Mamdani criticized the national Democratic establishment "run by well-paid consultants and big-money interests." Senate nominees in Maine, Minnesota, and Michigan have called for new leadership, while Alaska's Mary Peltola rejected Kamala Harris's support.

The piece urges the Democratic establishment to step back and let candidates be the face of the party. Since Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 nomination, Democrats thrived when they made people feel the government understood them. Figures like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama told that story, but Democrats have played defense since Trump's first election.

Before Democrats can change America, they must first change themselves.