Former President Barack Obama had blunt words for Democratic Party donors, telling them at a Friday fundraiser to "toughen up" and "stop looking for a quick fix" after the Democratic Party became locked out of power following the 2024 election cycle."I think its going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And its going to require Democrats to just toughen up," Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts obtained by CNN. "Dont tell me youre a Democrat, but youre kind of disappointed right now, so youre not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something."Obama is not alone in urging his fellow Democratic colleagues to take a more aggressive approach following the GOP's momentum in 2024. The former president articulated that his view of becoming more aggressive and toughening up means standing up for policies and candidates that are unpopular, or that may make lawmakers feel uncomfortable, but in the end have the best chance to deliver.FORMER OBAMA SPEECHWRITER ADMITS SHUNNING CONSERVATIVE IN HIS FAMILY WAS A MISTAKE"Dont say that you care deeply about free speech, and then youre quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when its hard. When somebody says something that you dont like, but you still say, You know what? That person has the right to speak. Whats needed now is courage," Obama added in his remarks at the fundraiser, which drew in $2.5 million and was hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, at their home."Stop looking for the quick fix," he added. "Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates."The former president pointed particularly at the upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia. Later this year, Virginia will face a major gubernatorial battle between incumbent GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former long-time Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va.In New Jersey, Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who was reportedly in attendance at the Friday fundraiser, is running for her state's open gubernatorial seat against GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli.RAHM EMANUEL WARNS DEMS HAVE BECOME PARTY OF 'PUNKS' WHO 'TALK DOWN TO PEOPLE' AND FRET OVER IDENTITY POLITICSBoth states will also hold new state House elections and a slate of other local elections. In Virginia, there will also be a special election this year to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.Amid his remarks, Obama described Spanberger and Sherrill as "powerful spokespersons for a pragmatic, commonsense desire to help people and who both have remarkable track records of service.""The most important thing you can do right now is to help the team, our candidate to win," he said. "And weve got to start building up our coffers in the DNC."Obama acknowledged the party's increasing propensity to nominate progressive, far-left candidates, such as the recent choice of Zohran Mamdani over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, but argued that what they are promoting and what centrist Democrats are pushing are not mutually exclusive.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Theres been, I gather, some argument between the left of the party and people who are promoting the quote-unquote abundance agenda. Listen, those things are not contradictory. You want to deliver for people and make their lives better? You got to figure out how to do it," Obama said Friday."I dont care how much you love working people. They cant afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY," he added, referring to "not in my backyard" views by residents who oppose development in their neighborhoods. "I dont want to know your ideology, because you cant build anything. It does not matter."Obama said that what was being asked of his fellow Democratic Party leaders was to "make some effort to stand up" for what they believe is right, even if it makes them a "little bit uncomfortable."Fox News Digital reached out to Obama's office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.