Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Say Democrats Need New Energy, Not Familiar Faces, Ahead of 2028

Podcast hosts and actors Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are sharing blunt opinions about the future of the Democratic Party, arguing that victory in upcoming elections will require new voices rather than established political figures.

On a recent episode of their podcast Las Culturistas, the longtime collaborators reflected on past Democratic campaigns and looked ahead to the 2028 presidential election cycle. Rogers praised Bernie Sanders, calling him the only major politician who consistently speaks honestly about policy.

Yang, meanwhile, said he regrets strongly supporting Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, admitting he now feels “silly” about it. Rogers added that much of the enthusiasm for Clinton at the time was driven by a reaction to misogynistic rhetoric and a cultural push to elect the first woman president, rather than excitement about her political vision.

Turning to the future, Rogers said he does not believe Gavin Newsom is the right figure to lead Democrats to a national win. He argued that voters are tired of politicians who appear overly focused on themselves or represent the party establishment.

Rogers was particularly critical of donating to the Senate campaign of Jasmine Crockett, saying he does not believe she can win a statewide race in Texas. He pointed to the failed Senate runs of Beto O'Rourke as evidence of how difficult the state remains for Democrats.

According to Rogers, Crockett is already “well-defined” in the public eye, which he sees as a disadvantage. Instead, he suggested Democrats might need a candidate who is less known and harder for opponents to label. As an example, he mentioned James Talarico, describing him as a rising figure who could appeal more broadly.

Crockett has faced criticism from both political parties since announcing her Senate campaign in 2025. At a December event, JD Vance questioned her authenticity, remarks that Crockett later said were racially motivated during an appearance on The View.

Despite the controversy, Yang and Rogers stressed that their comments were less about individual politicians and more about strategy. Rogers said Democrats need to focus on “energy” and winning elections, rather than repeating the approaches that failed in the past.