DNC Mid-Atlantic Regional Chair Lindy Li delivered sharp criticism of her own party during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Friday, likening the Democratic Party’s reaction to dissent to “leaving a cult.” Her remarks came after facing backlash for criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris and raising concerns about the party’s strategies.
Li specifically criticized rumors about Harris potentially running for governor of California in 2026 or president in 2028, stating:
“She’s indulging delusions of running for governor in California in 2026 and perhaps even running for president in 2028. I just want to echo what a lot of you guys already said.”
Kamala Campaign financial advisor Lindy Li: "I don't want to be part of this tent anymore. I don't want to be part of this craziness….Leaving the Democrat Party, or even questioning leaving the Democrat party, is like leaving a cult."pic.twitter.com/ukGIGViE2D
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) December 21, 2024
Li recounted the hostile reaction she received after making similar remarks on Fox and Friends, where she claimed Democrats have a “stench of loser” hanging over them.
“This week was harrowing for me. On Saturday, I went on Fox and Friends and said that Democrats have a ‘stench of loser’ hanging over them. As soon as I said that, there were boycott campaigns against me. I lost 40,000 followers in four days. People have called me a wh*re, the ‘C’ word, and even called for me to be deported.”
Li said the backlash came primarily from self-identified Democrats, which she found especially disheartening:
“All these so-called Democrats—the party of inclusion and diversity—masks off. It’s even worse because they pretend to occupy the moral high ground. At least with Republicans, they are who they are. But Democrats pretend to be so loving, caring, and embracing of diversity.”
She added that criticizing Harris specifically seemed to provoke an especially harsh reaction:
“When I dare to utter any criticisms of the goddess Kamala Harris, I get ostracized. This is after having raised tens of millions of dollars for the party, and I’m being called a grifter?”
Li, who described herself as a “conservative Democrat,” also criticized the Democratic Party’s use of funds during the 2024 election cycle, saying it raised serious concerns among donors.
“It’s my duty of care to ask, ‘What the hell happened with that money? Why did we spend it? Why did we spend millions of dollars on five-star hotels for campaign staffers? Why did we spend $500,000 essentially bribing Al Sharpton moments before he interviewed Kamala?’ These are legitimate questions, but no, in the cult, you can’t ask questions.”
She added that many high-profile donors are frustrated, having contributed over $2 billion to the party during the election cycle, only to see disappointing results.
“Donors are pissed. They deserve accountability. But within this party, questioning anything is treated as betrayal.”
Li reiterated her belief that dissent within the Democratic Party is met with disproportionate hostility:
“Leaving the Democratic Party or even questioning the Democratic Party is like leaving a cult—it’s terrifying.”
In addition to her criticism of Harris, Li has faced internal backlash for expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth. Her support for Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has drawn sharp rebukes from within her party.
Lindy Li’s outspoken remarks reflect growing tensions within the Democratic Party as it grapples with internal divisions following the 2024 election.
Her critiques, particularly of party leadership and spending, resonate with some Democrats but alienate others who view her comments as damaging to party unity.
As the party moves forward, Li’s statements underscore the challenges Democrats face in addressing internal dissent while maintaining a united front. Whether her criticisms will prompt meaningful changes or further isolate her remains to be seen.