In an opinion piece for Fox News, Jason Chaffetz wrote that Democrats are “baffled” by the retirement of the 85-year-old former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and lack a leader to rein in the party’s direction.
Chaffetz wrote that Democrats have lost message discipline, that Democratic National Committee fundraising is weak, and that traditional party gatekeepers have been sidelined as money and influence move to what he called a less regulated nonprofit sector. He wrote that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer previously directed donor dollars away from the party’s fringe.
Chaffetz criticized what he described as increasing influence from the Democratic Socialists of America, writing that the group seeks to abolish institutions such as the Senate, the Electoral College, the presidency and the Supreme Court. He wrote that Pelosi resisted elevating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by denying some committee assignments.
Chaffetz also raised concerns about state and local officials, writing that governors such as Minnesota’s Tim Walz and California’s Gavin Newsom “incentivized unimaginable levels of fraud” and that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Sanders endorsee, sought meetings with Iran and criticized Israel. He described a wing of the party as hostile to law enforcement and American institutions.
Chaffetz wrote that other Democratic figures — including Vice President Kamala Harris, DNC Chair Ken Martin, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Schumer — lack Pelosi’s authority and that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has not shown the leadership to unify the party. He pointed to what he called poor candidate vetting, citing rape allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner as an example, and warned that without unified messaging and a motivated donor base, Democrats face ongoing turmoil.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
