Chris Coons says the key for Democrats in red states is to keep races local

Sen. Chris Coons said Wednesday that Democrats in red states need to keep their campaign’s local in next year’s midterm races.

“The Democratic senators who are incumbents up for election this time in the five the states that you’re referencing — states like Indiana, North Dakota, Montana, Missouri, West Virginia — are terrific, active, engaged, local campaigners,” Mr. Coons, Delaware Democrat, said on MSNBC. “They’re very authentic people. They connect well in their home states. And I’d say to them, avoid letting your campaign be nationalized. Don’t really make this about Democrats verses Republicans.”

Mr. Coons said these candidates have been willing to reach across the aisle and work with President Trump on issues they agree with. Mr. Coons said he and some of his fellow Democrats had a meeting with members of Mr. Trump’s staff on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming tax plan.

“These are folks who’ve been willing to meet with President Trump to consider working with him across the aisle where it makes sense. But they’ve also stood firm in sticking to their core principles,” Mr. Coons said of his fellow Democratic senators in red states.

He also explained that Democrats were able to voice their concerns about not being included in the early stages of the tax plan conversation. Mr. Coons said Democrats have ideas they’d like to be considered in the tax plan, but said they did not have the opportunity to voice their concerns in the House version.

“The folks on the other side of the table, including the president calling in from Asia, said just wait, you’re going to see a different tax bill in the Senate than the House. We’re at the beginning of a process, not at the end,” he said.