Young Texan Progressive's Plan: Rebrand Democrats, Reconnect with Workers

Texas Representative Greg Casar, the new 35-year-old leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has some strong views on where Democrats went wrong in the recent election. In a chat with NBC News, he shared his thoughts on how the party can bounce back. Casar believes Democrats need to get back to their roots as the party of the working class. This means welcoming voters who don't agree on cultural issues and avoiding a 'preachy' image. He thinks the party should focus on helping workers and increasing wages without leaving vulnerable people behind. Casar doesn't think the solution is to turn against immigrants or transgender people. Instead, he suggests shifting the focus to economic issues. When Republicans bring up cultural wars, progressives should point out that big corporations, with Republican help, are the ones hurting people. Casar wants to lead the country, but not get too far ahead on social issues. Casar's rise has been quick. He was a labor organizer and Austin City Council member before winning his second term in the House. His views add to an ongoing debate within the Democratic Party about how to win back voters. While some blame the party's left wing for alienating working-class voters, Casar thinks the median voter is more left on economic issues but more conservative on cultural ones.