“What can we do?” That is the question on the minds of many Americans dismayed by Washington’s present plunge toward autocracy. Changes come so fast that it is nearly impossible to keep track of them, but, at its icy heart, the government under Donald Trump’s leadership has become outright hostile to the interests of ordinary citizens, dumping such things as protection of the environment to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Cuts to Medicaid loom.
The White House has defied court orders. It has embraced America’s adversaries and made new ones through threats and tariffs. In the wings, a specter of a constitutional convention is building from some states and, once called into session, anything is on the table, including a third term for President Trump. And, as the 2026 midterm campaigns approach, there is a non-zero chance that the White House will try to create enough disorder in the country to declare a state of emergency. This could throw the election into chaos or lead to calls to invalidate results not favorable to the Republicans in so-called “blue” cities and states.
Sadly, despite daily assaults on its authority by the Trump administration, there is little hope that the current Congress will assert itself as an equal branch of American government. Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution makes it plain: “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” Yet too many members seem to care more about their jobs than their constituents and toe the White House line out of fear; Elon Musk’s threat to throw his fortune into primaries against anyone who does not acquiesce has muted dissent even among Republican moderates, many of whom privately know better.
In 2024, just a handful of races threw the House of Representatives to the Republicans. In an election cycle dominated by Mr. Trump, it was always going to be a challenge for Democrats, and it was. Yet one did not get the sense that the challengers exhausted every option to get out the vote. Indeed, activists who could have gone door to door in the First District for John Avlon were instead canvassing for the Harris-Walz ticket in rural Pennsylvania or phone-banking to Florida. Here, a pair of door-knockers found that everyone they spoke with said they were voting for the Democrats; perhaps their efforts would have been more effectively directed elsewhere in the district.
Ongoing protests are a start. Keeping that momentum will be key to Democrats regaining control of the House and reining in a rogue presidency.
In 2026, concerned citizens cannot risk leaving it to Democratic-aligned political committees to organize. Turnout wins elections. In a highly polarized country, victory goes to the side that gets more of its people off the couch. The fight for the First District begins now, and this time the opposition must leave it all on the field.