Biden Urges New Democratic Lawmakers to Work Across the Aisle

President Joe Biden on Sunday called on incoming Democratic lawmakers to be mindful of other people's perspectives, even when they disagree, and to work across the aisle to find common ground. Speaking at a reception for new Democratic lawmakers, Biden emphasized the importance of building relationships with lawmakers from both parties.

The new slate of roughly 30 Democratic lawmakers will be in the minority in both the executive and legislative branches, following a crushing loss in the 2024 general election. Vice President Kamala Harris lost her bid for the presidency, and Republicans maintained control of the House and won a narrow majority in the Senate.

Despite the challenges ahead, Biden urged the new lawmakers to listen to others and seek common ground. "We don't do that anymore," he said. "The single greatest loss we have is that we don't know each other anymore." Biden also shared stories from his own experience in Washington, where he was first elected to Congress in 1972 at the age of 29.

New Democratic lawmakers, including California Rep. Sam Liccardo and Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari, expressed their commitment to working across the aisle on issues like housing affordability, climate change, and reproductive freedom. Ansari noted that these issues are important to young people and can be addressed in a bipartisan way.

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., whose district voted for Trump over Harris, emphasized the need for border security. "I think what Americans want to see is border security," he said. “Obviously, the last Congress wasn't serious enough, which is why the American people sent me here and sent a strong message that they want change.”

Biden's call for bipartisanship was echoed by Liccardo, who noted that the president's past experience shows he appreciates the importance of working across the aisle. The Sunday event was seen as an opportunity for Biden to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders in the country.