# Sen. Schiff On What Democrats Need To Do To Compete In Red States And Districts

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dj9lHhLoTY
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/4Dj9lHhLoTY
Generated: 2025-07-21T21:08:14.197+00:00

---
## Quick Overview

Senator Adam Schiff states that Democrats can compete in red states and districts by actively showing up, introducing themselves, and demonstrating a genuine interest in representing all constituents, as people are often surprised he does not fit the negative caricatures portrayed by figures like Donald Trump.

**Key Points:**
- Senator Adam Schiff, recently elected to the Senate, now serves on the Agricultural Committee to understand deep red parts of California.
- He observed a cultural divide in conservative areas like Butte County, which wants to secede and become its own red state.
- Schiff found that people in red districts are often surprised he doesn't match the "shrieking demon" caricature portrayed by Donald Trump and Fox News.
- He believes Democrats "haven't competed there," meaning they haven't shown up, introduced themselves, or tried to make people understand they want to represent them.
- Schiff emphasizes that Democrats must press their case in every part of the country, even if they won't win everyone over, because many can be won over.
- A farmer in Butte County told Schiff, "I don't know why the President calls you watermelon head. You have a perfectly normal sized head," indicating progress in bridging the gap.

**Context:** Senator Adam Schiff, a former Congressman from California known for his roles as an impeachment manager and on the January 6th Committee, recently won a Senate seat. He discusses his efforts to connect with constituents in conservative, "deep red" parts of California, addressing the challenge Democrats face in competing in such areas nationwide.

## Detailed Analysis

Senator Adam Schiff, recently elected to the Senate after two decades as a California Congressman, including serving as an impeachment manager and on the January 6th Committee, is actively working to bridge the political divide in "deep red" parts of his state. He sought a position on the Agricultural Committee to gain insight into these conservative areas, noting California is the number one egg-producing state and has lacked a Senator on the committee for 30 years. During a visit to Butte County, a conservative area considering secession, Schiff met with the Farm Bureau, a very conservative group. He observed an initial standoffishness but found that by simply showing up, listening, and expressing a desire to represent them, he made progress. Schiff recounts a farmer's surprised comment, "I don't know why the President calls you watermelon head. You have a perfectly normal sized head," as an example of bridging the gap "one inch at a time." He attributes the difficulty Democrats face in these areas to a cultural divide and, crucially, a lack of competition; Democrats "haven't shown up there," "haven't introduced ourselves," and haven't ensured people understand they want to represent them. Schiff asserts that people will not vote for Democrats if they feel looked down upon, condescended to, or ignored. He concludes that Democrats nationwide must actively press their case in every part of the country, recognizing that while not everyone will be won over, many can be, especially when they encounter a Democrat who doesn't fit the caricatures seen on Fox News or heard from figures like Donald Trump.

### Senator Schiff's New Senate Role

- Elected to the Senate after two decades as a Congressman
- Joined the Agricultural Committee to understand deep red parts of California
- California is the number one egg-producing state and lacked a Senator on Ag for 30 years

### Engaging Red Districts

- Visited Butte County, a conservative area considering secession
- Met with the Farm Bureau, a very conservative group
- Observed initial standoffishness from constituents

### Bridging the Divide

- Found that showing up and expressing a desire to represent them helped
- A farmer commented, "I don't know why the President calls you watermelon head. You have a perfectly normal sized head," indicating progress
- Schiff calls this bridging the gap "one inch at a time"

### Democrats' Competition Strategy

- Believes Democrats "haven't competed there" by not showing up or introducing themselves
- People won't vote for those who look down on them or are indifferent
- Democrats need to press their case in every part of the country

### Overcoming Caricatures

- Constituents are surprised when he doesn't fit the "shrieking demon" caricature from Fox News or Donald Trump
- Meeting him in person is a "revelation" when he "doesn't turn out to have horns"