Inside Democrats' growing tension with their grassroots
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Democrats in Congress are growing rattled by the historic flood of calls from their grassroots supporters demanding they do more to combat the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The pressure campaign has created some internal friction as some House Democrats chafe under the tamer, more focused approach led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.).
- One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios some members have argued Jeffries "can be focused," but should also "be a brawler."
- "We're still looking for that national spokesperson," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). "And it could be that Hakeem becomes that national voice. ... It hasn't happened yet."
What we're hearing: At a closed-door meeting of House Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee on Monday, members voiced frustration with activist groups like MoveOn and Indivisible that have facilitated thousands of calls to members' offices, according to several lawmakers who were present.
- "There were a lot of people who were like, 'We've got to stop the groups from doing this' ... people are concerned that they're saying we're not doing enough, but we're not in the majority," said one member.
- "People are pissed," said a senior House Democrat who was also at the meeting, adding that Jeffries himself is "very frustrated."
- A Jeffries spokesperson disputed that characterization and noted to Axios that their office regularly engages with dozens of stakeholder groups, including MoveOn and Indivisible, including as recently as Monday
State of play: Lawmakers in both parties have been bombarded with phone calls, with members and staffers describing a volume of outreach only seen during moments like the Trump impeachment hearings.
- Some Democrats see the callers as barking up the wrong tree given their limited power as the minority party in Congress: "It's been a constant theme of us saying, 'Please call the Republicans,'" said Beyer.
- "People are told, 'Call your congressman.' They're not told, 'Call your congressman, he's an ally.' ... So they call and say 'What are you doing!? What are you doing!?'" Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.) told Axios.
- Said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.): "I reject and resent the implication that congressional Democrats are simply standing by passively."
What they're saying: "Let's be honest: People are angry, scared, and they want to see more from their lawmakers right now than floor speeches about Elon Musk," Leah Greenberg, the co-executive director of Indivisible, said in a statement to Axios.
- Democrats "have minimal leverage, but not zero," Greenberg said, arguing that Democrats should threaten to withhold their likely crucial votes to keep the government funded on March 14.
- "Voters believe their representatives can do more. They're right. And Democrats must rise to the moment—now," she said.
- MoveOn declined to comment.
Between the lines: Democrats have spent the last two weeks trying to turn up the heat against Trump and Musk after being caught flat-footed by their shock-and-awe tactics.
- Democratic lawmakers have staged raucous rallies outside of — and tried to gain entry to — federal agencies, attempted to subpoena Musk and even announced articles of impeachment against Trump.
- Jeffries on Monday launched a "Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group" which Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a co-chair, told Axios is to put Democrats on "on battlefield footing everywhere."
- That includes, he said, "pursuing different ways to support litigation" against the administration, including leading amicus briefs.
What to watch: Lawmakers described the task force — as well as a 10-point plan that Jeffries unveiled last week — as the Democratic leader's way of inching closer to the kind of strategy the grassroots is demanding.
- Jeffries has also signaled plans to use federal funding as leverage to try to roll back some of Trump's most controversial moves, and on Tuesday he attended a rally on behalf of fired federal workers.
- The base felt that "our leadership wasn't doing enough at first," the senior House Democrat said, and the task force "was his answer to people saying he's not doing enough."
- Said the first House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity: "I know that Hakeem is [a brawler] and we're going to see more of that fire."
Editor's note: This article has been updated to add comments from Jeffries' office, including that it disputes another Democrat's characterization of his feelings about the groups.
