Colorado's Jason Crow Says Democrats Must Win Back Voters on Costs and Take on Corruption

Rep. Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that his party is campaigning on everyday costs and intends to act on them if it takes control of the House in January. Crow serves as battleground chair for House Democrats and says he has recruited and mentored many of the candidates in competitive races.

Brennan cited CBS polling showing Democrats on pace for a narrow House majority of about 11 seats, with many of their supporters motivated more by opposition to President Trump and Republican policies than by a positive agenda. Crow dismissed the framing, saying voters have always worried most about paying bills and affording health care, housing and groceries, and that those are the issues his candidates are running on.

Brennan also noted that 57% of voters in the same poll do not believe Democrats have a clear plan. She played remarks from former President Barack Obama, who said the party "can't just be against something" and must show what a future after this administration could look like. She then asked how Democrats could advance affordability measures if Republicans keep the Senate.

Crow did not answer the Senate question directly. He conceded that Democrats are also running against their own record, saying the party failed to address key issues in past cycles and lost 90% of U.S. counties in the fall of 2024. He said that result is not a governing coalition, and that Democrats must tell working-class and rural voters they have learned their lesson and will focus on rebuilding the middle class.

The conversation turned to comments by Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who said at the University of Chicago that she wants young people to think twice before taking a job in the Trump administration, calling it a "deterrence message." Many conservatives read that as a threat of persecution or prosecution. Crow said he had not heard the full conversation but called Slotkin a close friend and a patriot, and said the point is that people should not join what he called a corrupt administration to enrich themselves. He said the party wants a new generation to step up and build what he called "America 2.0."

On national security, Brennan cited a memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton saying Iranian plotting against U.S. personnel in the Middle East and other countries has reached advanced stages. Crow, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, did not discuss the intelligence itself. He said Iran remains a danger and called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth incompetent, naming his ouster from the Pentagon as his top priority if Democrats win the majority.

Crow also said Russia is the main supporter of Iran, alleging that Vladimir Putin is providing intelligence and targeting help. He criticized Steve Witkoff for sitting across from Putin and calling him a humanitarian in recent weeks, and said Trump eased sanctions in a way that sends tens of billions of dollars to Russia's war machine.

Finally, Brennan raised Ukraine's statement that SpaceX satellite services were fully restored on Saturday after a disruption that affected the battlefield. She noted that Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has questioned who holds authority over such capabilities, since Elon Musk owns the company. Crow said it appears one unelected private citizen does hold that power, calling it "beyond disturbing." He said he wrote to Trump with Reps. Adam Smith and Jim Himes demanding answers, and that Democrats will try to stop the arrangement.