Former Democratic strategist Ted Devine says the Democratic Party's handling of the 2016 presidential primary continues to shape American politics. During a recent interview, Devine discussed his book, How the Democrats Screwed Bernie, arguing that party leaders unfairly favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the nomination process. Devine Details 2016 Primary Controversy According to Devine, leaked emails published by WikiLeaks showed close coordination between the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Clinton campaign. He claimed the DNC influenced debate scheduling, fundraising, and campaign operations in ways that benefited Clinton while disadvantaging Sanders. Devine argued these actions created an uneven playing field during the Democratic primary. Sanders Could Have Won, Devine Says Devine also claimed Sanders would have defeated Donald Trump in the 2016 general election. He pointed to polling data from that election cycle and said independent voters strongly supported Sanders in several key battleground states. He also referenced comments by Trump's former pollster, Tony Fabrizio, who reportedly believed Sanders would have been a stronger Democratic nominee. Grassroots Politics Remain Key Looking beyond 2016, Devine argued that party insiders continue to influence Democratic elections. He cited New York City's recent mayoral race as an example, claiming establishment figures backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo despite growing grassroots support for another candidate. Devine praised grassroots organizing and public campaign financing, saying both allow candidates to compete against well-funded political organizations. Outlook for the Midterm Elections Turning to the upcoming midterm elections, Devine predicted Democrats could perform well if they focus on economic concerns such as inflation, affordability, and the cost of living. He also stressed that candidates should reflect the priorities of their local communities rather than follow a one-size-fits-all national strategy. According to Devine, the Democratic Party should support candidates who can win in their states, even if they hold more moderate or independent political views.