U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal declined to play “political analyst” when asked why President-elect Donald Trump won, and won big, on Tuesday.
He did commit to working across the aisle with Republican colleagues to pass bills to lower prices and increase kids’ safety online — all while continuing to stand up for women’s reproductive rights and other foundational Democratic Party principles.
Blumenthal — Connecticut’s third-term senator and a Democrat, like all of the state’s federal delegation — offered those election reflections Thursday afternoon on Blake Street after an unrelated press conference about tenants union organizing.
“I’m deeply disappointed with the results at the national,” Blumenthal said, in reference to Trump’s win against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as well as Republicans’ return to control of the U.S. Senate.
“Make no mistake, I am going to continue doing what I’ve always done, which is fighting for the people of Connecticut, and working and fighting against anyone who abuses their power and does harm to the people of Connecticut.”
He continued by promising to “reach across the aisle where possible on issues like lowering cost of living, prices of everyday necessities for the American people,” as well as on the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act and “other protections for kids on the internet.” He listed supporting a “strong national defense” and “working to support Ukraine” as two other points of potential cross-party collaboration.
“I’m going to stand strong for values and principles that may be at risk,” Blumenthal added, including “women’s reproductive freedom and [against] a national ban on abortion that’s threatened.”
And why exactly does he think Trump won — not just the electoral college, but also, likely, the national popular vote?
While declining the role of “political analyst” so soon after Election Day, Blumenthal said, “I do think we need to soul search and learn lessons, as we would have to do from any kind of defeat.”
And “we need to stay true to our basic principles and values.” Blumenthal then referred to Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s concession speech:
“We believe in the dignity of work, and we always will. We believe in standing up and fighting for everyday Americans, working people, when they are threatened by corporate special interests. We believe in the rights of working people, and in the values of freedom and democracy, the Bill of Rights, women’s reproductive freedom, and we always will.”
Click on the video above to watch the Independent’s full interview with Blumenthal.