Booker Says Democrats Failed Political Moment

Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, stated on NBC's "Meet the Press" that his party has failed to address the current political moment, urging a generational shift in leadership to bridge deepening divides in the United States.

The interview, conducted by host Kristen Welker on Sunday, March 29, 2026, came as Booker promotes his new book, "Stand," which critiques ideological rigidity within political coalitions. Booker, a two-term senator seeking reelection in November 2026, acknowledged achievements by his colleagues but delivered a pointed assessment of the party's direction. "I'm proud of so many things that my Democratic colleagues are doing, but as a whole, our party has failed this moment," he said. He attributed much of the problem to partisan polarization, warning that the left-right divide is "killing our country" and that foreign adversaries exploit it through social media to foment division.

Booker advocated for "generational renewal" and a "new moral imagination" to foster unity, arguing that the party must expand beyond narrow ideological tests that he said are shrinking its coalition. He emphasized the need for a broader vision that includes diverse...