High-profile Democrats have spent the last week trading blame over the party’s election failures. But with Republicans projected to narrowly maintain control of the House of Representatives, ushering in a Republican trifecta, progressives warn that Democrats can’t afford to get caught up in litigating the results of the election.
During this lame-duck period, the party instead needs to deploy the full force of its coalition to preempt some of the harm that Donald Trump promises to unleash on marginalized communities.
“I worry that many of my colleagues and Democrats are going to spend more time trying to analyze or to blame people or trying to unpack the shock of this loss,” said Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Chicago progressive who overwhelmingly defeated her Republican opponent last Tuesday. “I’m happy to have conversations of processing and evaluating the outcome of the election. We should have that. But that, to me, in this moment, is secondary to the work that needs to be done through administrative action, through executive action, and through the Senate and appropriations process to extend the most protections for as many people as we can.”
The Biden administration has said that its priorities include delivering hurricane victims assistance, confirming remaining judicial nominees, and passing the National Defense Authorization Act. “We have 74 days to finish the term, our term. Let’s make every day count,” said President Joe Biden last Thursday. “That’s the responsibility we have to the American people.”
For progressive members of Congress, however, there is more to be done. Outgoing Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., has urged the White House to lean into its executive powers and draft a series of executive orders to protect government officials from Trump’s promised multi-agency staffing purge. On the congressional side, Jayapal has also reportedly pushed lawmakers to focus on funding for the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, and the bipartisan infrastructure law before Trump resumes office. “A lot of things can be undone, but it can take longer to undo them and it will force a priority from them on what they want to focus on,” Jayapal told Axios.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is reportedly positioning himself as the face of the anti-Trump movement, though neither he nor Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have spoken at length about their plans for the lame duck. Schumer, who has scheduled two judiciary votes for next week, also responded to Trump’s election by urging bipartisanship and not going to “the extreme.”
Looking ahead to next year, GOP control over Congress means that Trump will have nearly unchecked power upon his return to office in January. The president-elect will also benefit from a conservative majority in the Supreme Court and an increasingly conservative lower court system. With Democrats’ ability to legislate on a national level severely hamstrung, progressives say there are other ways to fight back: holding Trump and his appointee’s feet to the fire in committee hearings; strengthening constituent services; working in coalitions to block legislation; and using their pulpit to shine a light on the administration’s right-wing agenda, particularly when it comes to immigration.
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress, said she and her allies are prepared to face the next four years. “My people survived 400 years of actual bondage, so laying down at the first sign of a Republican trifecta isn’t our style, and it’s not the most challenging thing that America has faced and survived,” Lee told The Intercept. “I draw hope from that. I draw wisdom from the movements of the past. I draw encouragement from the successes of the past that we’ve had in the most depressing and oppressing situations.”
Protecting Immigrants
The president-elect’s recent high-level appointments of anti-immigrant right-wing figures signal that he is very serious about the mass deportations plan he campaigned on, putting the estimated 11 million undocumented Americans at risk from Day 1. Trump’s key personnel include former senior adviser Stephen Miller, who will be Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy; Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security; and former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, with the amorphous title of “border czar.”
One step the Biden administration can take to blunt the impact of Trump’s deportation regime is to work to clear the backlog of applications for adjustment of status, a legal process that allows immigrants to obtain permanent residency status, said Ramirez. We need to “help as many people as possible adjust status between now and January,” she said. “I have people who said to me, my appointment is supposed to be in the next few months, but I’ve been waiting seven years for this appointment. So how can we have some kind of emergency, rapid processing, if you will, to help as many people that are eligible for adjustment to get that adjustment, or to get the interview to determine their adjustment.”
The Illinois representative acknowledged that the courts are a significant impediment to protecting immigrant communities, citing a Biden executive order to protect mixed-status families that was struck down by federal courts a few days ago. “We understand the courts are ruling in Trump’s favor left and right,” said Ramirez.
But now isn’t the time to debate whether every policy will stand up to scrutiny under the courts; it’s the time to act, she added. “In this moment, I am far more interested in doing everything we can in our power than spending seven weeks asking if it’s unconstitutional to protect children and their families from deportation, if it’s unconstitutional to create some kind of pathway to green card status for Dreamers,” Ramirez said.
President Biden and his administration, along with Democrats, have a crucial opportunity to demonstrate boldness, courage, and a sense of urgency in helping and protecting people before Donald Trump assumes office. It is essential to make the most of this time to make a positive impact on the lives of as many individuals as possible.
As Trump takes office, the work remains the same for dedicated individuals like Lee, who prioritize representing their districts and marginalized populations. Regardless of who is in power, the goal is to make the system work for the majority and improve the material conditions of those who have been underserved by the government for too long.
During a Trump administration, Democrats should patiently wait for opportunities to make a difference and be ready to act when the time is right. While it may be challenging to predict when these opportunities will arise, it is crucial to stay prepared and seize them when they present themselves.
One effective strategy for Democrats is to leverage high-profile committee hearings to hold administration officials accountable. By asking tough questions and challenging misinformation, Democrats can disrupt harmful narratives and advocate for the truth.
As members of Congress navigate a new political landscape, staying connected to constituents and providing essential services will be paramount. Working closely with community organizations and experts who understand the needs of the people will be crucial in finding effective solutions and leading with integrity.
It is important not to give up hope or prematurely concede defeat in the face of political challenges. By remaining committed to serving the people and fighting for what is right, politicians can make a meaningful impact and create positive change in their communities.
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