By Sunday 
“It’s time for some alpha energy in politics.” Michigan’s Senator brings Detroit grit to D.C.
When you think of Detroit grit, odds are your mind flashes to Lions head coach Dan Campbell barking out one of his now-legendary soundbites—like his infamous “we’re gonna bite a kneecap off” rant from his introductory press conference. Now, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin wants her fellow Democrats to bring that same attitude to Washington.
In a recent New York Times interview, Slotkin didn’t mince words. She’s tired of the hand-wringing, the defensive posturing, and what she calls the “wonky” policy talk that lacks the gut-punch emotion voters are craving. Her call to arms? Bring back the bold. Or in her words: “alpha energy.”
No More Playing Defense
“You can’t just point at Donald Trump every day and point out the bad things that he’s doing,” Slotkin said, referencing the all-too-familiar Democratic strategy of playing reactive politics. “You have to show a positive, affirmative vision of what you’re going to do if you’re in power.”
Translation? Stop being scared. Start leading with emotion. And be ready to fight like you’re down six in the fourth quarter with no timeouts.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and now a first-term senator from Michigan, has been pushing this message for a while. But her tone has sharpened, and so has her urgency. She wants Democrats to take risks, swing big, and stop relying on think-tank language when people are looking for plain talk and passion.
From Game Plans to War Plans
This isn’t just locker-room talk. Last month, Slotkin laid out an “economic war plan” in a speech at the Center for American Progress. She’s following that up with more speeches later this year focused on security and democracy. Her message is consistent: Big change needs big energy.
She believes too many Democrats have been spooked by immigration debates, letting the far-right own the narrative. “They are concerned about saying: ‘No, not everyone gets to be here,’” she said. That kind of honesty, she argues, is necessary—even if it makes some progressives uncomfortable.
Time for a New Starting Lineup
Slotkin’s frustration runs deeper than policy. She believes the Democratic Party lacks a central figure—“a sun we all center around,” as she puts it. Right now, there are stars and planets spinning in their own orbits, but no unified gravitational pull.
And it’s not just about leadership—it’s about tone. Slotkin believes voters respond to emotion, not just spreadsheets. “In the Midwest, alpha energy is about emotion,” she said. “Whether you’re a coach… or you’re frustrated that they didn’t give it their all, you’re speaking about your gut.”
Lions Mentality in the Capitol
If Dan Campbell can get a locker room of 300-pound men to buy into a gritty, no-excuses brand of football, Slotkin is hoping she can do the same for her party. She’s urging Democrats to stop flinching at every Trump soundbite and start showing voters what they stand for, not just what they’re against.
Because at the end of the day, the American people don’t just want policies. They want fight. They want heart. They want someone who sounds like they actually care—and maybe, just maybe, someone who sounds like they could coach a football team on Sunday if this whole politics thing doesn’t work out.