Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin unveiled what she called an "Economic War Plan" for Democrats on Thursday, arguing that the party must refocus on middle-class economic concerns to counter both Donald Trump's policies and internal divisions that have left the party "like a solar system with no sun."
Speaking at the Center for American Progress, Slotkin presented her vision as the first of three planned speeches this year addressing what she sees as the Democratic Party's path forward after sweeping losses in 2024. The Michigan Democrat, who narrowly won her Senate seat in a state Trump carried, positioned economic security as the party's unifying principle amid ongoing debates over progressive versus centrist approaches.
Slotkin's plan centers on what she called "pocketbook" issues, including job creation, housing affordability, and healthcare costs. She proposed declaring a "housing emergency" to address a shortage of 4 million homes and called for streamlining federal workforce training programs across 14 agencies.123
"The middle class doesn't have a lobbyist. They don't have a super PAC. They don't have a corporate PAC," Slotkin said, according to the Washington Examiner. "But they should have the Democratic Party."3
Her proposals include banning congressional cryptocurrency trading, eliminating corporate PAC contributions, and supporting small businesses through regulatory reform. On education, she advocated for increased investment in trade schools and community colleges while banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms.24
The speech came days after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's upset victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city's Democratic mayoral primary, intensifying discussions about the party's direction. Slotkin called the timing "coincidence" but acknowledged both the New York election and Trump's recent bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities "clarify why I feel the need to do this speech."1
According to ABC News, Slotkin argued that a shrinking middle class represents "the single greatest security threat to the U.S.," warning that economic insecurity fuels political divisions.2 She drew on her background as a former CIA analyst to frame economic policy through a national security lens.
Slotkin, described as a centrist Democrat who was the fifth-most conservative House Democrat according to GovTrack's 2022 scorecard, has emerged as a prominent voice calling for party unity around economic issues.1 She delivered the Democratic response to Trump's joint address to Congress earlier this year and has been dubbed a "rising star" by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.2
"These labels of progressive, moderate, whatever -- that's less relevant. It's fight or flight," Slotkin said, according to ABC News.3
