SF Chronicle: California Democrats see a spike in constituent calls urging them to ‘fight back’

Written by Shira Stein

WASHINGTON — Bay Area lawmakers have received an increase in calls from constituents in January and February, seven members told the Chronicle. Those who were in office at the start of the first Trump administration said the volume is similar to that time period. But the messages they’re getting have gotten more specific: Constituents are asking them to “do something” and not just make symbolic moves or release statements.

The flood of feedback highlights the internal conflict paralyzing the party: continue prioritizing decorum and civility, or create a new form of resistance.

That clash was nowhere more apparent than at President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 4. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., urged members of his party to “have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber” and recommended they not bring props.

“Just resign already. This is feckless and useless. Actually do something,” Bluesky user Alejandra Caraballo posted about Democratic lawmakers’ plans to protest via color-coordination.

Democratic public opinion research firm Blueprint found voters are skeptical that the Democratic Party can effectively respond to Trump, and believe there is a lack of clear strategy.

There’s also a lack of consensus among Democratic voters about how the party should approach Trump: 59% want Democrats to resist him and work to stop his agenda — a view more common among college-educated voters — while 29% supported working with Trump when he’s right but resisting when he’s wrong and 5% think Democrats should work with Trump to implement his agenda, according to the February polling.

Jeffries has said his strategy is legislation (little of which is getting passed right now), litigation (something lawmakers can’t control) and mobilization.

“My office has received more constituent calls than ever before from residents who are deeply concerned and upset about what Trump and Republicans are doing,” Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, said in a statement. “People are urging me and my Democratic colleagues to fight back and preserve our democracy.”

Mullin said he’s heard from seniors who are worried about losing Medicare and Medicaid, people concerned about Elon Musk gaining access to Social Security data, and “a mother who worried Trump’s attempt to freeze federal funds would hurt a mental health program her child relies on.”

In response, Mullin’s office compiled a list of the actions he’s taken so far, including quickly sharing information with cities and nonprofits about new executive orders, speaking out against Trump, and leaving the hospital to fly back to D.C. to provide a crucial vote against a Republican budget resolution.

“People in my district and across the country are concerned about the chaos coming out of Washington. They’re paying close attention to the news, and they don’t like what they see — from Republicans’ slashing our healthcare to make room for tax cuts for the ultra-rich, to the President’s unlawful actions,” Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, said in a statement. “We’re working to fight back in Congress, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.”

Both of California’s senators have seen an increase in calls and alarm from constituents.

“Every day we hear from thousands of constituents alarmed at the lawless and destructive actions of the Trump Administration,” Ruby Robles, press secretary for California Sen. Adam Schiff, wrote in a statement. “Senator Schiff feels the same fierce urgency as his constituents and has been fighting back using every tool at his disposal — investigation, litigation, legislation, communication, mobilization and more.”

“Since the beginning of the year, the Senator has received an influx of calls and messages from constituents concerned and alarmed by the actions the Trump Administration has taken,” Danny Rodriguez, spokesperson for California Sen. Alex Padilla, said in a statement. “Senator Padilla shares the deep concerns that many Californians have and is working relentlessly to provide oversight and hold this Administration responsible for their actions.”

Rodriguez said Padilla has received calls about the firing of federal workers and spending freezes for disaster recovery, child care, nutrition and public safety programs.

Padilla and Schiff have both been vocal in opposition to Trump’s nominees and have requested information from federal agencies to get more insight into how his actions are affecting Californians. 

But most of the actions the lawmakers and their offices pointed to were messaging and communications-focused — like letters to the administration or introducing legislation unlikely to become law — and would not directly stop the Trump administration’s actions.

Mullin acknowledged the reality of Democrats’ limited powers to stop Trump and Republicans.

“Republicans control the presidency, the House and the Senate. While me and my Democratic colleagues are doing all that we can, we also need the American people to help. If you have friends or family who live in Republican districts, encourage them to call their representatives and speak out,” he said.

To really jam up the Republican agenda, Democrats would need to take more drastic action, including by “muscular legislative opposition in every nook and cranny” of the federal government, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told the Nation. Tradition dictates a minority party make all sorts of small agreements with the majority party to keep the government moving, and Democrats have largely continued those practices.

“The senators, if they’re willing to bring their sleeping bags and their fervor to work, they can really shut it down. They have far more parliamentary means at their disposal to block this steamrolling of the Constitution,” Raskin said. “But we certainly have the power to withhold our participation in any effort to bail them out of their own political crisis.”

Some lawmakers are taking it upon themselves to take action. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, plans to host town halls in Republican-held California districts — an announcement he made after Republican leaders recommended their members stop holding in-person town halls — and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, said he may do the same. 

“Constituents have asked for me to ‘speak up whenever and wherever you can’ and ‘do everything possible,’” Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, told the Chronicle. “As a 30-year activist and organizer, the charge of ‘do everything possible’ and through any means necessary is not new to me — and I will continue to do exactly that.”