Arizona Democrat Goes on Listening Tour

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is traveling the country in a bid to restore his party’s popularity by addressing its weaknesses with key constituent groups.

The Arizona legislator candidly acknowledged Democrats’ problems attracting young male voters, going so far as to say in a May interview, “We’re just not ever going to be as cool as some of these Republicans … . And honestly, even when we try, we look very f—ing fringe doing it, right?”

Democrats have been having heated internal discussions about why they lost the popular vote in the 2024 presidential election, the first time in 20 years. Democrat campaign strategists have even put millions of dollars behind an effort, “Speaking With American Men,” which would include an effort to study “the syntax, language, and content that gains attention and virality in [online] spaces.” 

Democrats also elected a Gen Z activist David Hogg to be a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, although he resigned after refusing to sign a primary neutrality pledge.

In July, a Wall Street Journal poll found that 63% of registered voters saw the Democratic Party as “out of touch with the everyday concerns of Americans.” The poll also concluded that Democrats are underwater in net favorability by 30 points, the worst such score on record.

Gallego is also touring the country on a “listening tour” in swing states as well as presidential primary and caucus states. He has made stops in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and New Hampshire in an outreach to Democrat voters. The Arizonan’s travels have taken him to iconic political events for potential presidential contenders, including the Iowa State Fair and a New Hampshire “Politics & Eggs” event.

The Arizona Democrat is a first-term senator having previously served in the House of Representatives for a decade from 2015 to 2024. Prior to that, he was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014. A graduate of Harvard University, Gallego served in the Marines from 2002 to 2006.