Fmr Bernie Sanders staffer explains why Democrats can’t find someone to ‘follow up the hill’ to lead them

Former Bernie Sanders campaign staffer Tezlyn Figaro said Wednesday on “Jesse Watters Primetime” that Democrats are struggling to find a name to lead the party due to no longer wanting a “celebrity” to “get behind.”

After President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Democrats have struggled on how to rally voters behind a single message and leader. Watters asked Figaro about early reports indicating Democrat New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is potentially the new face for the party’s 2028 presidential election. Watters asked Figaro if she was excited about Ocasio-Cortez.

“No, I’m not excited, but good for her,” Figaro said. “If she wants to run, God bless her. Let her get out there and run. But the Democrat Party is absolutely failing to reach all demographics. If you look at the rallies that AOC is having and Bernie Sanders is having, there’s not many folks in there that look like me. That was one of the issues that progressives had as far as making sure they reach across all demographics.”

“I know a lot of folks are gonna say, ‘Oh, you know, they have plenty of people of color,’ but no community that I organize in is talking about being excited about AOC. That’s just the truth. I think she’s a strong voice,” Figaro added. “I think she’s a great leader, but the leader really has to come from the grassroots, not an elected official. Clearly, they failed. So let’s go to the grassroots. Let’s see who’s available on the bench. That’s something the Democrat Party’s not doing.”

In March, CNN/SSRS released a poll showing Democrats hit an all-time low favorability rating of 29%, dropping 20 points since January 2021. Over 30% of respondents could not name a Democrat they believed “best reflects” their party, with Ocasio-Cortez hitting 10% among those who wrote in a candidate.

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Figaro went on to say the Democrats are refusing to bring up “new leadership” and instead are “just circling the wagons with the same old leadership over and over.”

Other potential names for Democrats include Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Watters then continued to press Figaro about who excites her community.

“What folks have been doing is organizing town halls, organizing meetings, organizing themselves. To figure out what they need,” Figaro said.

“There is no name,” Figaro said. “Guess what? Breaking news. Nobody wants a name. See, this is the thing. Nobody wants a name. People want the name to be the actual people to deal with the issues. The celebrity get behind one person is just no longer working. So the grassroots is now currently looking for who is the next person that they can follow up the hill. And it is not any of these leaders, respectfully.”

Some members of the party suggest that their messaging to voters explains their lack of appeal. Infighting amongst Democrats has broken out on how to win back seats.

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