As Democrats continue to process their loss in November's presidential election, many say they're preparing to move forward while dealing with the implications of the new Trump administration.
In New York, where a solidly blue state has been rattled by a better-than-expected performance by President Donald Trump, Democratic strategist Jack O’Donnell, founder of O’Donnell & Associates, told Spectrum News 1 that Democratic leadership should expect to spend the next four years preparing for and reacting to the fiscal implications of a Trump White House.
“It could include spending cuts to programs that are really important in New York like Medicaid,” he said. “It could be reaction to policies in New York that the president and Republicans don’t like. Let's start with congestion pricing, and what that means for transportation funding.”
With Trump now officially sworn in, Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York State Working Families Party, stressed that it now also becomes about dealing with policies Trump has already made clear are coming, like when it comes to immigration.
“Mass deportations are harmful on breaking up families, but beyond that, there is an economic impact for New York. Immigrants are part of our economy,” she said.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the state Capitol Monday in response to the new administration. At the rally was a heavy focus on the president’s firm support for Israel.
“Palestinians deserve to be able to live free in their land,” said Eyad Alkurabi of the Palestinian Rights Committee
Also top of mind was Trump’s inaugural address in which he previewed an executive order which would federally recognize only two genders, among other diversity, equity and inclusion rollbacks.
“They want to eradicate me and my path to identity that I’ve found,” said Aster Reis.
That said, there was also a recognition that Democrats bear responsibility for what was a decisive loss.
“It wasn’t Trump’s vision for the future that won this election. It was the lack of a real alternative that lost it,” said Julian Mostachetti, a member of the Capital District Democratic Socialists of America. “A genuine alternative for a better future is something that is possible and we can build together."
That responsibility is something that New York’s leaders have acknowledged in the weeks since Election Day, from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s affordability agenda for her 2025 State of the State, to comments from top Democratic leadership like Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
“This last election, it was all abortion and Trump stinks,” he told reporters last week. “I think Democrats have to do a better job of messaging all of the things we have done.”
O’Donnell said that's why even with protests and rallies held on Monday and expected for the remainder of the legislative session, January 2025 looks nothing like January 2017.
“That loud resistance, wearing hats and marching didn’t really change anything. That’s one factor in how Democrats are reacting,” he said. “I think the other piece is even in a place like New York, seeing how well Republicans did.”
Making the ground even shakier for Democrats is the fact that Hochul is up for reelection next year. She has struggled to bolster her approval rating on the heels of a closer-than-expected victory in 2022.