Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) says both President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) "tapped" into the anger people in both parties were already feeling.

“I think Donald Trump, in many ways, symbolizes the times,” King said Wednesday night during a discussion on "Leadership in Action," hosted by The Hill as part of its Newsmaker Series. The American University School of Public Affairs and the Kennedy Political Union cosponsored the discussion.

“I think what he really did was tap into what was already there,” he continued, noting that across the political divide, Sanders was able to do the same with progressives in 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I don’t think that people thought there was a Bernie Sanders wing of the [Democratic] party because he wasn’t even in the party. And yet that’s where the energy is coming from,” he said. “So, I think that Bernie Sanders, in one way, and then Donald Trump in the other, both tapped into anger in both parties and among the American people.”

King and the other lawmakers in the discussion, Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.), spoke with The Hill Editor in Chief Bob Cusack, about the importance of bipartisanship and the difficulties in reaching across the aisle.

King, who described himself as “slightly right of center” lawmaker, said there was often a double standard for those who tried to work across party lines.

“As soon as you do, you get called a traitor,” he said.

Cuellar, who considers himself a “moderate, conservative Democrat,” shared that frustration. Cuellar said he pays his party “dues,” but believes his role in Congress is to serve his district first.

“I’m a Democrat, but I’m not here representing my Democratic Party,” he said. “I’m here to represent the people that I represent."

He said he recognizes that his constituents care less about the drama in Washington and more about local issues.

“They’re not talking about the wall,” he said. “They’re talking about bridges.”

Cuellar said lawmakers need to look for more common ground.

“If you’re a liberal, that’s good. If you’re a conservative Democrat, that’s good. But you have to work together on that,” he said. “What happens is, there is a lot of purifying on both sides.”

Despite the divides in the party, Cuellar did predict success for Democrats in November. And even with a number of candidates saying they won't back House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit MORE (D-Calif.), Cuellar won't bet against her.

“I wouldn’t put my money against Nancy Pelosi. I mean she’s good,” he said.

First thing first, win, then we can talk about that later,” he cautioned.

Delaney also stressed the need for Democrats to win this November, saying, “You need to win to govern and to get some of these things done.”

Already the first Dem to announce a 2020 bid for president, Delaney said the party needs to reach out to more voters.

“We also have to build a coalition. Because we keep slicing the country up, and creating all these divisions,” he said. “Not only is it bad for the people but it’s bad for our chances of winning.“

He stressed the need for Democrats to “campaign everywhere.”

“At this moment in our time when so many Americans are concerned about how the norms in our society are being degraded and our leadership around the world is being reduced,” he said, “we have a unique opportunity to talk to people who haven’t been listening to us for a long time.”