Importance of Value Politics

On October 7th, 2024, in the leading days up to the presidential election, co-presidents of the Youth Engagement in Politics club Gabriella Novak and Arjun Sawhney interviewed Illinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood to discuss her legislative priorities, the youth’s role in politics, and her ability to work across the political aisle despite a polarized political climate–especially relevant topics considering the impending election and the heightened political tension across the nation.

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, the Representative of the 14th district of Illinois, takes a unique position regarding her political campaign. 

“What I talk about are values before I talk about policies,” the Congresswoman noted. “A lot of Democrats in particular forget to do the value statement. They forget to open up and let people know who you are, what you believe, and why.”

Underwood attributed her emphasis on value before policy to her background as a nurse.

 “In nursing school, we learned a lot about the critical thinking process, which involves doing an assessment first. Let's see the full scope of the problem before we run towards our first intervention. And I think that in politics, people are so eager to show or demonstrate what they know that they forget the opportunity to connect with people based on what we all believe in.”

In light of the election results, Underwood’s words hold extra weight. In a nation where polarization is embedded within the very fabric of political discourse, the Congresswoman has not only won her most recent election but has been re-elected multiple times, doing so with a heavy majority. Her cooperative approach, focusing on our similarities rather than our differences, serves as a powerful example of how leading a political campaign with an emphasis on shared values can transcend partisan divides and foster unity across the aisle.

In the wake of a disappointing election for Democrats, it may be timely for the party to consider that politics is emotional before it is rational. While some have argued that Democratic policies have been well-crafted and beneficial for the nation at large, the presidential election revealed an unexpected Democratic underperformance, reflecting a fundamental disconnect between the party and its base. In other words, while Republicans mastered the art of validating the values of the masses, Democrats focused on defending past policies and proposing new solutions that failed to resonate with the emotional concerns and values that drive voters’ decisions. Underwood’s message is evident: moving forward, Democrats must reconnect with voters at the emotional level. In doing so, Democrats have the potential to rebuild their political narrative to validate, resonate with, and mobilize their fragmented base in the hopes of a stronger, more united future for the Democratic party.