The Democratic National Committee opened its summer meeting in Minneapolis on 25 August with a formal land acknowledgment and an invocation delivered by a progressive Lutheran pastor. The program set a tone that emphasized social-justice themes, including support for transgender services for minors and warnings that U.S. democracy is under threat from former president Donald Trump. In a session focused on campaign messaging, Vera Institute vice president Insha Rahman advised party activists not to be drawn into debates over migrant crime or carjackings, arguing that such issues resonate with fewer voters than Republicans suggest. Party officials also highlighted Minnesota’s ranking as the leading U.S. state for providing transgender services to minors. The meeting comes as Democrats assess how to regain support in key swing states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with strategists divided over whether the party’s emphasis on progressive cultural issues will help or hinder efforts to broaden its appeal.