Thomas Perez in Meet the Press interviews during 2017

On Principles & Values: Invest in grassroots every-Zip-code strategy

PEREZ: We have to rebuild our parties in the 50 states, and that's exactly what we're going to do. We also have to redefine our mission. We not only elect the president of the United States, but we elect people from the school board to the Senate and everywhere in between. Governors, secretaries of state, treasurers, attorneys general. I think there's an acute understanding that where we fell short is that we didn't invest enough in those state parties. When we build that strong infrastructure, when we're in every ZIP code--I heard from rural America that the Democratic party hasn't been there for us recently. We have to make sure we have an every-Zip-code strategy. That's how we win. That's exactly what we're going to do. These investments in grassroots organizing.