Cecil Roberts Jr., President of the United Mine Workers of America, expressed his hope that the recent election loss for the Democrats could serve as a much-needed “wake-up” call for the party to engage with the “next generation.”
Roberts was among several Democrats featured in a lengthy Vanity Fair article on Tuesday discussing the aftermath of the 2024 election, where President Donald Trump won the popular vote and all seven swing states.
Noting that Vice President Kamala Harris largely won over voters earning $100,000 or more, Roberts cautioned that the Democrats may no longer be able to present themselves as the party of the working class.
“Union members supported the vice president,” Roberts stated, “based on polling data. However, it appears that working people did not.”
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A Vanity Fair piece highlighted the challenges faced by Democrats after their defeat to President Donald Trump. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/Kevin Mohatt)
Roberts added, “I am a lifelong Democrat and will continue to be one, but the issue remains – what about the next generations?”
In the article by James Pogue, clips of Roberts condemning the dismissal of manufacturing workers from industries like mining by the wealthy were highlighted, a sentiment that resonated with other Democrats.
“When you hear a wealthy individual,” Roberts emphasized, “such as a CEO or board chairman, extol the patriotism of their company or board, it’s essential to understand that, pardon my language, it’s all nonsense.”
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President of United Mine Workers, Cecil Roberts, cautioned his party on the lack of support from working people for Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)
Pogue noted that some senior Democrats consider Roberts and others like him as individuals still “hanging on” to a bygone era. Roberts pointed out that these party members struggle to connect with the working class due to lack of interaction.
“The Democrats have been in need of a wake-up call for a while now,” he remarked. “If there’s any silver lining, I hope they pay attention. There was a time when everyone heard me.”
Pogue concurred with this assessment, suggesting that the Democratic Party, once the home of outsiders, has now become defenders of the status quo.
“In a time when 60% of Americans believed our democracy required significant changes, many voters perceived this coalition as advocates for a wealthy, well-educated status quo that regular Americans had grown to despise,” Pogue wrote.
Democrats have stopped “listening,” according to Roberts. (Left: (Photo by Leigh Vogel/WireImage), Circle: (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))
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He continued, “By opposing a populist uprising, Democrats have begun to resemble America’s entrenched elite.”
