Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) conceded Sunday that the Democratic Party is struggling to connect with voters, acknowledging a “messaging problem” in response to a new poll showing Democrats at their lowest favorability rating in nearly three decades.
“We have to fix this,” Kelly said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union. “I don’t put a ton of stock in polls, especially this far out from an election, but we certainly do have a problem — and it’s a messaging problem.”
A Wall Street Journal poll released earlier in the day found that 63% of registered voters now view the Democratic Party unfavorably — the highest negative rating the party has received in the Journal’s polling since 1990. Only 33% of voters said they had a favorable view of the party.
Disconnect on Key Issues
Kelly emphasized the importance of communicating directly with Americans on the issues that matter most to them. He recalled traveling with his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, to meet with voters and explain how Democratic-backed legislation would affect everyday programs like Medicaid and SNAP food assistance.
“There were folks there that I got the sense these programs directly impact,” he said. “And they deserve real answers from someone in Congress.”
Backlash Over Misleading Inflation Post
CNN’s Jake Tapper also pressed Kelly about a now-deleted post from the Democratic Party’s official X (formerly Twitter) account that attempted to blame “Trump’s America” for record grocery prices. The graph used in the post showed food prices climbing steeply from 2021 through 2024 — during Joe Biden’s presidency — before stabilizing after President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Asked whether Democrats have truly come to terms with their communication failures and the legacy of Biden-era inflation, Kelly replied, “Yeah, I think that’s fair. There was inflation during the Biden administration. I tracked this pretty closely — I saw prices rise on eggs and ground beef myself.”
Kelly Warns of Tariff Impacts Under Trump
While acknowledging past mistakes, Kelly also warned that President Trump’s new tariff policies could drive up prices again in the future, especially in border states like Arizona and Texas.
“Trump’s tariff policy is very likely to increase costs,” he said. “For Arizona, that matters a lot — we rely on agricultural imports that support thousands of jobs across the region. Disrupting that trade could do real damage.”
Kelly concluded by noting that job losses have already begun in Arizona, and emphasized the need for better communication and accountability within his party.
“We have to do a better job explaining our policies, owning our shortcomings, and proving to voters that we’re listening,” he said.
