If Democrats want to win back Congress and the White House, we must reclaim what made our party a national force in the first place: our commitment to being a big tent.For much of modern history, the Democratic Party has thrived by welcoming Americans from a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs. We didnt require agreement on every issue to work together for a common causeespecially on topics like abortion or gun safety, where regional and cultural differences shaped the views of our candidates and voters alike. That flexibility helped us build durable coalitions capable of winning elections from city halls to Congress.But in recent years, weve moved toward a more rigid and absolutist postureone that suggests a Democrat must align 100% with every plank of the party platform to earn the label. This "all or nothing" mentality has not only narrowed our reach; its jeopardized our ability to build the legislative majorities we need to govern.SEN BERNIE SANDERS: WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF BILLIONAIRES, BY BILLIONAIRES AND FOR BILLIONAIRESTake, for example, pro-life Democrats. While they may diverge from national party orthodoxy on reproductive rights, many of these leaders stand with us on issues like affordable healthcare, economic justice, and workers rights. In a divided electorate, supporting candidates like these can be the difference between holding a legislative chamberor handing it over to Republicans who oppose our values wholesale.The same logic applies to gun safety. In rural districts where hunting and gun ownership are embedded in the culture, we shouldnt expect every Democrat to support the same proposals as those from urban centers. We can still advocate for commonsense reformsbackground checks, red flag laws, and safe storagewithout insisting on litmus tests that alienate potential allies.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONAs Governor Gretchen Whitmer has said, we need to meet people where they are. That doesnt mean compromising on our valuesit means recognizing that no coalition succeeds without some ideological flexibility. Most parliamentary democracies around the world understand this. Majorities are built through negotiation and compromise between parties that may agree on only a few key issues. Thats how they keep government functional and extreme ideologies in check.We should do the same. Because what matters most is not ideological purityits the power to govern. Its the ability to pass legislation, confirm judges, invest in communities, and protect our democracy from those who seek to undermine it.If we want to win againtruly winwe must embrace the complexity of our electorate. We must build a Democratic Party that prizes inclusion over ideological conformity. Only then will we have the strength to meet this moment and the future beyond it.