Undercover videos show Democrats have a disconnect, with some insiders saying the party takes minorities for granted

Newly obtained undercover videos suggest a disconnect in the Democratic Party, with some insiders acknowledging that the party takes minority voters for granted.

“We have a sense that we do not believe we can elect Democrats statewide, and we haven’t been able to,” N.J. Akbar, director of organizing and outreach for U.S. Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes’ campaign, said in one video obtained by Ohio.News.

In an undercover video, the director of organizing and outreach for Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes’ campaign lamented that they haven’t won statewide.

They view U.S. Senate hopeful Sherrod Brown as the only person who has demonstrated statewide viability, even though his… pic.twitter.com/PdrQiLe1wW

— Ohio.news (@RealOhioNews) October 22, 2026

“Politics, it is a profession. It’s all a game of — and I’m not saying game — but it’s all about seeing what makes the most sense,” Akbar said.

In the U.S. Senate race, that apparently means turning to Sherrod Brown, a career politician voters booted from office two years ago, to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted.

“And so the reason why, because he said he’s interested in running, that everyone’s … around him is because he’s the only one who has proven that he can do it.

“When you talk about, you know, his campaign last year, he lost,” Akbar said. “They didn’t want to go to the Black community until the end of October, and you know, I got a call from one of their people. … ‘we want to see what we could do in the black community in Akron.’ It’s Oct. 20. What the f— do you want me to do? Now, I’ve been begging you to come here for months. Like, what do you want me to do now? I’m not about to do a check the box.”

The director of organizing and outreach for Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes’ campaign wondered whether candidates should be more vocal or avoid alienating voters and potentially increasing MAGA turnout, even as he BLAMED TRUMP for racism. pic.twitter.com/zPFFujBMC1

— Ohio.news (@RealOhioNews) October 22, 2026

Akbar isn’t alone in his apparent thoughts. In another video obtained by Ohio.News, a Democratic organizer seemingly acknowledged her party’s shortcomings.

“Democrats do a lot, but they take for granted, one, what they have, and I think that there’s a lot of very subtle racism,” Cecily Antares, the district organizing director in Ohio’s 13th congressional district, which is represented by Emilia Strong Sykes, said. “I think there’s still so much work to do, and a lot of people who, like, probably don’t actually realize. …Maybe they do realize how important the vote is, but I think they are just like in their bubbles.”

In an undercover video, the district organizing director for Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes’ campaign acknowledged that Democrats take their voters for granted, blaming “very subtle racism” and accused candidates like U.S. Senate hopeful Sherrod Brown of being “in their… pic.twitter.com/DNL23P4XdP

— Ohio.news (@RealOhioNews) October 22, 2026

Regarding Brown, reports of his interest in returning to Washington emerged as he dined with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at a restaurant in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood in June 2025.

“My thought is, do I want someone who’s going to potentially alienate most of the people here, and maybe even drive up that hatred vote, and have more MAGA come out,” Akbar said of the race.

“There’s some things where I’m like, I understand why you don’t. Do I think that we could … use a country or a time where you could do that. I think if this was 2012, you could be in this district the way it’s made up. Be more vocal.”

As in so many matters, they still find a way to blame President Donald Trump.

“Trump, he made it okay to be racist, and he made it okay for you to be okay with it in your conscience,” Akbar alleged. “And I think that’s what has changed. I think a lot of it is subconscious. I don’t think the vast majority of people are like ‘MAGA are racist, and I hate black people, and I know it, and ain’t nothing you can do about it.’”