‘Get your stuff together': Dem strategist issues warning to his party ahead of 2026 midterms
Kevin Liao told host Nikki Laurenzo on Inside California Politics this week that democrats too often risk coming across as 'out of touch' when they side with special interest groups and should instead shift their attention toward communicating with constituents. Liao referenced the recent debacle over sex trafficking legislation in Sacramento and former Vice President Kamala Harris' stance on funding sex change operations for inmates.
'[Advocacy groups] have really good intentions,' Liao said. 'But what happens is, they tend to drag the Democratic Party into these politically untenuous situations.'
Liao has a long history within the Democratic Party at the local, state and national levels. He has served as the press secretary for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Liao also worked as the communications director for Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz as she campaigned across battleground states for the Harris-Walz ticket. In 2020, Liao worked on Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential primary campaign in Iowa and California and President Joe Biden's general election campaign in Nevada.
Liao said California could see an even bigger red shift in 2026 if democrats don't do a better job at gauging the most important issues on voters' minds — something he says the Republican Party is doing successfully. Liao referenced a recent campaign video by republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton in which Hilton sits down with a Latino family at a taqueria in East Los Angeles.
'You have a republican going into a community like that and talking to people. I don't know the last time I've seen a democrat do that, but its been a while,' Liao said. 'Its something that folks certainly need and should be doing.'
The interview also touched on former President Joe Biden's election loss and new developments on his health during the 2024 campaign. Republican State Senator Tony Strickland joined the show to talk about Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget.
Inside California Politics airs this weekend during the following times:
KTLA: Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 a.m.
KRON: Saturday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m.
KSEE: Saturday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m.
KSWB: Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
KGET: Sunday, May 18 at 11:30 p.m.
KTXL: Saturday, May 17 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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