So you woke up Wednesday feeling exhilarated about the coast-to-coast victories of Democrats over Trump’s handpicked candidates. You may have voted or even volunteered for your favorite Democratic candidate and helped them win. And now, you’re wondering what you can do next.
If so, you’ve got a lot of company.
One of the big weaknesses of how non-MAGA Americans participate in public life is the fact that we tend to be unorganized and unfocused between election cycles and we don’t have a cool hat we can all wear.
That’s where the list below comes in. I didn’t come up with these ideas; they’ve all been proven to work and have stood the test of time. And there are many other sources for how we can all get in the fight.
But the key thing to remember is: Building on Tuesday’s successes is going to take a lot of work.
Might as well get started today.
If you voted for a candidate that won on Tuesday, then help them follow through. They’ll need you to offer words of support at City Council meetings, go to the State Capitol to testify in committee meetings, and get your friends and relatives to support what they’re doing.
If your local Congressperson is a Republican, choose a specific thing they’ve done or not done, make some signs, and protest when they’re in their district. Find your congressperson here and call their office to find out when they’ll be in the district office.
Wear a t-shirt to show your opinion and let like-minded people know they’re not alone.
Boycott a company that’s supporting the Trump administration. Donors to his imperial ballroom is a good place to start.
Ask your City Councilor to sponsor a resolution opposing a specific Trump policy, highlighting how it hurts your community and/or violates basic American rights and freedoms. Googling “[City Name] City Council” is a good place to start.
If your local congressperson is a Democrat who is not doing enough right now, ask to meet with them and hold them accountable. If they’re standing up to MAGA, then thank them and support them. Find your local congressperson here.
Attend your local Democratic committee meeting and get active. If they’re not doing enough, then take it over and do more. Googling “[County Name] County Democrats” will usually find them.
Talk with people on the other side because Trump’s power increases as communication across the partisan divide decreases. There are lots of guides for this; here’s one.
If you belong to a community or neighborhood group, give a speech on important American freedoms like freedom of speech, due process, and the freedom of association. Here’s a useful explainer.
Participate in future No Kings protests. Find information here.
Remember: Every time the good guys have won, it’s taken time, sweat, and sacrifice.
For a lot more ideas, visit The Albert Einstein Institution (AEI).