Senator-elect Gallego on Democratic Party: 'We need to go back to the basics'

Congressman Ruben Gallego’s win in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat was a rare bright spot for Democrats, who faced sweeping losses elsewhere on the ballot – in Arizona and across the country.

President-elect Donald Trump reclaimed Arizona after losing the state to President Joe Biden four years ago. Down the ballot, Republicans at the state Capitol strengthened their control over both chambers of the Legislature.

Gallego told CBS News he believes many of his fellow Democrats are out of touch with a key voting bloc – Latino men, a population that Trump made significant gains with this election cycle.

“I think a lot of times, these kinda DC people, put their ideals onto them, without actually ever talking to them,” the senator-elect said.

But it’s not just Latino voters. Gallego said Democrats must recalibrate their approach across the board, particularly with working-class families, to find success again in national elections.

“A lot of this is, we need to go back to the basics of who we are: A pro-worker, pro-family party that is aspirational and pushing the American dream,” Gallego said.

As for Trump, Gallego said he hopes that the next president’s new administration is successful, and “proves me wrong.”