Ex-DNC chair says Dem party has become ‘doormat for Republicans’

Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison told NBC News in an interview published Friday that Democrats are “tired of the party being a doormat for Republicans.”

Harrison also emphasized to NBC News that Democrats want party leaders willing to “fight.” His comments follow recent reports that voters are seeking strong new leaders in the Democratic Party in the aftermath of the party’s brutal losses in the 2024 election cycle, during which Harrison was leading the DNC.

“People want somebody who’s going to fight,” the former DNC chair told NBC News. “If there’s a theme that I am constantly getting, it’s they’re tired of the party being a doormat for Republicans. They want somebody who’s gonna give the Republicans just as much hell — if not more — and fight for them and their families and their communities.”

Harrison also told the outlet that “if you’re coming here and your backbone is like a wet noodle or spaghetti, you might as well just not even — save your airfare.”

The former DNC chair recently launched a podcast, “At Our Table with Jamie Harrison,” which featured Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the first episode. The podcast’s debut episode had just 655 views on YouTube as of Friday morning. Some in the media had touted Harrison as the “The Democratic Joe Rogan” in the days leading up to the podcast’s launch.

Former President Joe Biden nominated Harrison to be the DNC chair in 2021. Prior to this, Harrison ran for the U.S. Senate losing to incumbent Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham by double digits — despite raising a then-record $133 million for the race.

Harrison did not seek reelection as DNC chair in 2025 after presiding over the 2024 election cycle where his party lost control of both the presidency and the Senate while failing to retake the House.

Tyler Bailey, a civil rights attorney and Columbia City Council member, told NBC News that he is searching for “somebody who’s not gonna just come in there and just say I’m not for [President Donald] Trump. It can’t just be an anti-Trump message.” Bailey added that he thinks there is “a hunger of people wanting to see some real leadership on the Democrat side.”

Some constituents have reportedly urged House Democrats to prepare for possible acts of violence and “be willing to get shot” while countering President Donald Trump’s political agenda this year.

Additionally, Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said in an interview with the New York Times published Thursday that Democrats need to lean into their “alpha energy” and be more “bold.” In May, Rahm Emanuel, an ex-Obama White House chief of staff and former Chicago mayor, slammed the Democratic Party for being “weak and woke.”

Towner Magill, a Democrat, told NBC News that he is looking for a “uniter” in the Democratic Party.

“I’m looking for a uniter, not just in the Democratic Party,” Magill told the outlet. “I think we need to run a uniter, but I also think that maybe we need a uniter in the White House.”

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