Attention Democrats: Don’t mourn, organize!

In a Former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), my former congressional colleague, recently offered advice for Democrats’ post-election blues. He suggested that first we stop feeding the “end of democracy woes”; second, that we “embrace the suck”; and third, understand voter anxiety in a time of change.

I have a more concrete list.

We need to engage in voter registration efforts, especially in minority communities, on an ongoing basis. Black Americans and Latinos gave the majority of their votes to Vice President Kamala Harris. They constitute the Democrats’ most loyal voters. Although some moved towards former President Donald Trump, most did not.

New voters need to hear from Democrats beyond the 100 days before an election, whether by mail, social media, town halls or community gatherings. Critical midterm elections will be here soon and these new voters can help us send a resounding message to Washington, but we should nurture their support.

We must speak out in opposition to Trump’s dangerous policies. Billionaires don’t need more tax cuts, but people need the protection of the Affordable Care Act, which Trump promised to repeal and replace with his “concept of a plan.” An anti-vaxxer with a brain worm like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should not be anywhere near agencies that affect the nation’s health.

Women’s health care includes abortion, and Trump has been all over the place about what he would do if a national abortion ban reached his desk. Enough senators could stop that legislation (unless filibuster rules are changed), but that is not the only worry around reproductive rights. Attention must be paid to future appointments to the Supreme Court, as well as the lower courts.

We should help the Senate with their duty to “advise and consent” by making sure they hear from us. It means we need to scrutinize the actual records of nominees, and not be fooled by promises that they would follow “existing law.” Justices who swore under oath that they would do that went ahead and overturned over 40 years of precedent with the Dobbs decision.

Democrats must be the party that will support transgender people, who were viciously attacked by Trump during the campaign, and not be scared off by him. Trump said he would block federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care and ensure “severe consequences” for teachers who acknowledge transgender children.

Trump and his allies spent more than $200 million dollars spreading a message of hate for transgender Americans, who must feel terrified about what the future holds. This is already a vulnerable population with a high suicide rate. Each of us should reach out to transgender family members, friends and neighbors, and try to counter the hate by creating affirming and inclusive communities, and vigorously opposing Trump’s policies.

Working-class people deserve a break, and they are struggling with rising housing and grocery costs. When Trump pushes tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, we need to push back and demand tax relief for working people. We need to level the playing field for small business, and disfavor monopolies and multinational corporations, especially those that take their profits overseas as a tax shelter.

Democrats need to take back the mantle of serving the working class, and that means emphasizing bread-and-butter issues. Trump offers tariffs, which many voters thought would preserve American jobs, but in reality will only serve to drive up costs of consumer goods. As we oppose the Trump agenda, we must put forth better options for working families, including strong schools, child-care credits, more grants and low-interest loans so their children can attend college and ensure retirement security and financial stability. The contrast must be made obvious.

We can’t be silent if mass deportations begin. If Trump rounds up migrants at factories, meat processing plants or large farming operations, he won’t be allowing these necessary workers to stop home and get their children. Family separation would be inevitable again. Over 2,000 children were separated from parents under the first Trump administration before a horrified outcry from the public caused it to stop. Some families were never reunited. We need to lift our voices on day one.

Please keep pushing your House and Senate representatives. Congress should be a check on Trump’s authoritarian impulses and backwards policies. Make sure it is. Tell your representative and senators to vote against a nationwide abortion ban. Tell them that transgender people are part of our families. Tell them “drill, baby, drill” is wrongheaded as we face a national climate crisis.

Although the presidential election is over, the fight must continue. Organize, baby, organize.

Mary Jo Kilroy is a former member of Congress representing Ohio’s 15th congressional district.