At the Democratic National Committee (DNC) summer meeting this week, Insha Rahman, vice president for advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, addressed party members on how to approach crime in political messaging. Rahman advised Democrats not to focus on issues such as carjackings or migrant crime, arguing that these do not concern most Americans.
“You want to talk about the crime issues voters care about,” Rahman told attendees, referencing a recent poll commissioned by Vera’s political advocacy arm. She continued, “Don’t take the bait because most Americans are more worried about how we are going to address mental health issues, the visible homelessness that we see on streets, and how do we deal with mental health and other issues that drive the sort of random incidents that scare all of us – that’s what you should be talking about.”
Rahman further stated: “Don’t take the bait and talk about migrant crime or carjackings or the things that actually don’t matter to that many Americans.”
The remarks were made as she discussed former President Donald Trump’s proposed crackdown on crime in Washington, DC. According to Rahman, focusing on broader concerns like mental health presents a “huge opportunity” for Democrats.
Carjackings have been reported as increasingly common in Washington, DC in recent years. However, Rahman’s comments suggest a shift toward prioritizing policy discussions around mental health and homelessness over specific types of violent crime.
A video clip of Rahman’s statements was shared widely on social media following her presentation.
