The Democratic Party needs to change. After a decisive electoral loss at the national level, including losing the White House, Senate, House and down-ballot races, Democrats across the country have some reflecting to do. In my view, the direction of the Democratic Party needs to focus on centering the interests of working-class and middle-class people.

Though the 2024 election results may seem unexpected to some, the shift of working-class voters away from Democrats has been in the works for about a decade. It is also notable the shift of working people away from Democrats is not reserved to White voters. Latino and Black voters were included in the 2024 shift of votes to the other side. Even in the 2020 election of President Joe Biden, we saw a surge in higher income, suburban voters to account for his win.

There are several challenges for Democrats as we chart a new course forward for a more inclusive party for working people. We need to address cultural issues within the party; we need to get a reality check on the economic reality of most Americans, and we need to embrace a vision for the future that connects our goals to the needs of Americans.

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Speaking down to working people does not make them want to vote for you. Decrying them as uneducated for voting against their interests or shaming them for not having a passport is insulting. It’s insulting. It’s out of touch. It’s elitist. It’s ignorant of the reality of most Americans. It turns out people don’t want to vote for people who they think don’t like them. Those who have participated in talking down to working people need to check themselves, get out of their bubble and educate themselves on what it means to be an American.

Some have done well in this economy, but 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Income inequality is continuing to rise, folks are struggling with stagnant wages and stagnant job opportunities, and inflation has increased the cost of household staples, like food and gas. Your average American family does not measure their economic lived experience based on GDP or the stock market. The top 10% of earners own more than 90% of stocks and equities. That means a significant portion of American adults don’t benefit from the economic indicators used to market this economy.

There is dignity in work. The Democratic Party needs to be the party of teachers, nurses, construction workers, plumbers, electricians, food workers and so many more people who rely on a wage or salary. We need to fight for good wages and benefits, affordable, quality health care and secure retirement opportunities. We need to take on the bad actors who steal wages or take advantage of workers; a dollar worked is a dollar earned and should be a dollar paid. We need to set a vision for the future of America centered on work and the ability of working people to get ahead and stay ahead.

Lastly, I fully acknowledge the dust of 2024 has not fully settled. The Democratic Party will do some reflecting and analysis. Democratic Party leadership will learn and adjust. I just hope those decision-makers learn the right lessons. I want to be a part of a Democratic Party built for working-class and middle-class people.

Erik Clarke is a former treasurer of the Democratic Party of Denver who ran for Denver auditor in 2023. He has been a chief financial officer and executive controller, with experience in audit management at global accounting firms, including Deloitte and Crowe.