Obama: Election results 'good reminder that the American people are paying attention

Former President Obama celebrated Democrats’ election victories this week, saying it was a reminder that Americans were “paying attention” to what is happening with the government.

“It was good to see progressives get off the mat,” Obama said Thursday during a surprise appearance at a live-taping event for the “Pod Save America” podcast. “It was a good reminder that it turns out the American people are paying attention.”

“They don’t want cruelty,” he said. “They’re not looking for people on the top trying to entrench themselves in power, they believe in community, in treating people with decency and respect.”

Democratic candidates swept elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City earlier this week as the federal government remains at a standstill during the record-long shutdown.

Voters in New York elected Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani to succeed Eric Adams next year. Moderate Democrats former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (Va.) and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) bested their GOP rivals in their states' gubernatorial elections.

California also passed Proposition 50, a ballot measure that allows the state to redraw district lines in favor of Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The effort comes after GOP lawmakers in Texas, Montana, Ohio and North Carolina made similar moves to try to win Republicans more seats in the House next year.

Despite the wins, infighting has threatened to stall the party's efforts to rebuild in the months after President Trump's sweeping victory and Republican wins in last year's race.

Obama, who campaigned with Spanberger and Sherrill ahead of the election, cautioned against the party imposing “litmus tests” during his remarks on Thursday.

The party has struggled in recent months over competing visions about how to win the midterm elections, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) favoring running more moderate candidates even as others call for younger, more progressive voices in office. 

“We had Abigail Spanberger win, we had Zohran Mamdani win,” Obama said. He said that both candidates were “part of a vision for the future.” 

“Our job is to say that we want everybody engaged, and we want to have a conversation about how to make sure that every person in this country is treated with dignity and respect,” he added.

The former president also emphasized the importance of speaking and engaging young voters.

“When young people are engaged and involved, then we win,” Obama said.

Initial election data shows that groups that have drifted toward Republicans in recent years — including Black, Latino and youth voters — showed out for Democrats this election cycle.

Obama added, “Tuesday was nice, but we’ve got a lot of work to do."