My mother’s Stitch and Bitch club might have a few lessons for the next Congress.
My mother belonged to a handwork club called the “Stitch and Bitch.” The name pretty much said it all. Women gathered around their handiwork, shared stories, exchanged opinions and, I imagine, solved a few of the world’s problems along the way.
I’ve been thinking about that club while watching the political aftermath of the 2026 midterm elections. My mom’s sewing circle picked a theme, and each member gave their interpretation. They disagreed, but accepted each other’s version as long as it fit the underlying theme.
It occurred to me that Democrats could learn a lesson from a group of women sitting around a table with needles, thread, and different ideas about what they wanted to make.
If Democrats want to turn the 2026 blue wave into a lasting governing majority, they need a bigger hoop going into the first 100 days of 2027.
The election delivered Democrats an opportunity. It didn’t deliver a mandate for a uniformly progressive agenda. The blue wave swept through some traditionally conservative states and districts, bringing along voters who don’t necessarily share the Democratic Party’s most progressive positions.
That’s an important distinction.
Democrats have spent considerable time arguing among themselves about their own members’ political leanings. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, and former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema all drew criticism from Democrats when they broke with the party on particular issues.
Their critics treated those disagreements as evidence of political disloyalty. Elected representatives have a responsibility to represent the people who sent them to Washington.
In 2009, incumbent Representative Marilyn Musgrave of Congressional District 4 focused on culture wars and aligned herself with an unpopular president.
Sound familiar? CD 4 is now the home of Lauren Boebert.
A newcomer, Betsy Markey, soundly defeated Musgrave. The Democrats coerced her into voting for Obamacare. Two years later, she lost by 12 points to Republican Corey Gardner. Markey’s loss created a domino effect. In 2014, Gardner upset incumbent Democrat Mark Udall and became an integral member of the so-called “Make America Great Again” coalition.
The moral of the story? A Democrat representing a conservative constituency faces different political realities than a Democrat representing Boulder, Manhattan, or San Francisco.
The incoming Congress will include more Democrats representing places where progressive politics don’t resonate, like South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas. If party leaders expect those members to vote as though they represent the same constituency, they risk turning an electoral victory into a political liability.
Look what happened in 2026.
Democrats don’t have to abandon their principles or move wholesale to the right. A successful political coalition needs room for different opinions.
The common thread: Getting through life with fewer financial burdens
If Democrats want to govern, they should begin with issues that matter to people regardless of their political affiliation.
They don’t have to agree on every policy detail. They need to identify problems that Americans share and find practical ways to address them.
Over the next few days, I’ll share some ideas on how the new Congressional majority can improve everyday life.
What could Democrats accomplish if they spent less time arguing over ideological purity and more time addressing shared concerns?
Here’s a teaser about six places to start:
- Bring down prices. Help families manage the cost of groceries, utilities, housing, childcare, and other expenses that eat into their paychecks.
- Provide less expensive healthcare. Lower prescription drug and insurance costs while protecting access to doctors, hospitals, mental health services, and addiction treatment.
- Build more entry-level houses. Give younger families a realistic shot at homeownership and make rental housing more affordable for people at every stage of life.
- Invest in jobs and practical education. Expand trade schools, apprenticeships, community colleges, and workforce training while continuing to support universities and research.
- Make communities safer. Support effective local law enforcement, police accountability, responsible gun ownership, and practical efforts to reduce violence.
- Invest in jobs and practical education. Expand trade schools, apprenticeships, community colleges, and workforce training while continuing to support universities and research.Fix immigration. Secure the border, enforce immigration laws, maintain a workable legal immigration system, and create a fair process for people who have built their lives here.- Keep energy affordable and reliable in the age of AI. Modernize the electric grid, develop dependable energy sources, and address the enormous power and water demands of data centers.
None of these issues belong exclusively to one political party. Democrats don’t have to agree on every solution, but they should be able to find enough common thread to get something done. That’s what creating multiple designs in a bigger embroidery hoop is all about.
