In the 2010 midterm election, Democrats saw the highest loss of a party in a House midterm election since 1938. Republicans gained 63 seats that night. For 8 long years Republicans have controlled the House of Representatives, frustrating Democrats and progressives. On November 6, 2018 that finally changed. Democrats picked up at least 40 seats, regaining control of the House. After being locked out of every seat of power in Washington since the 2016 election, Democrats have the opportunity to legislate and put forth an agenda to the American people. The question now becomes what will the Democrats do with this new-found power? What should the priorities of the 116^th congress be in January? Many people now hope that a Democratically controlled House will finally be a check on scandal ridden administration and a corrupt president. While congress should definitely investigate apparent corruption and hold the president accountable for any crimes that are revealed, it should not be the primary focus. The new Majority must not forget that their primary job in Washington is to govern and legislate.

The most pressing issue of our time is the threat of Climate Change. Earlier this year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a committee convened by the United Nations, issued a report describing a world with worsening droughts and food shortages, wildfires, animal extinctions, and mass die-offs of coral reefs as soon as 2040. This date is far sooner than previously believed. In dealing with this threat, the report called for transforming the world economy at a rate and scale that has “no documented historical precedent.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Climate Action activists in Nancy Pelosi’s office to draw attention to the issue. Many other freshman members of congress have called for legislation, a Green New Deal, to combat Climate Change. The legislation would create a House select committee to come up with a definitive plan to move the U.S. economy towards 100% renewable energy and push lawmakers to stop taking political contributions from fossil fuel companies.

Campaign finance reform and voting rights should be at the top of a list of priorities of the new congress. Elections in this country are bought and sold to the highest bidder, with everyday citizens pushed out of the political discussion. The obscene amount of money pouring into our political system is having a corrupting effect. Congress should work towards a constitutional amendment reversing the disastrous effects of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. The U.S. should start moving towards publicly funded elections in order to put all citizens on an equal playing field in our democracy. Instead of making it harder for people to vote, voting rights should be strengthened. The oversight and process of voting should be nationalized, instead of each state setting its own rules. The constitution gives congress broad authority over congressional elections. Automatic voter registration should immediately be instituted. Election day should be a national holiday with legislated opportunities for everyone to vote. Individuals that have committed crimes but have paid their debt to society should have their voting rights restored.

For additional input I implored opinions from Michelle Durney-Croniser, a progressive living in Seattle, Washington,

With the upcoming shift of power in congress there’s debate about what Democrats in congress should focus on in the coming year. Many people see this as a chance to finally check the president and his administration after having our hands tied for two years. Many more are thinking that we can finally go full steam ahead to get answers about what happened between the president, his campaign staff, and Russian leaders during the campaign. Then there’s the idea of worrying less about investigations and Russia, and more about moving important policy proposals forward. In my humble, non-expert opinion, no matter how the democratic controlled congress approaches the next two years, there will be political ramifications that will be tough to predict given that the outcome of the last presidential election defied all expectations. It is also essential to keep in mind that we need to be able to reach across the aisle if we are going to get anything done. Also, I’m tired of playing nice. It’s time to be sharks. I must restate, this is my humble opinion…

Let me start by highlighting policies I think we need to focus on over the course of the next two years and then explain why I think we need to head in this very specific direction. Gun violence is in the very front of my mind. While I understand that for many, this might seem like a secondary topic to things like corruption and reforming the justice system, we see and hear about gun violence on a daily basis. Many of us have been impacted or have had a close call. Furthermore, this is important to young voters and teenagers who will be of voting age by the next election. Not only do we need to focus on reducing gun violence so that we as Americans can feel safe at work, home, schools, movie theaters, church, concerts, and in hospitals, but we also need to make sure that American children don’t grow up in an era in which they ask themselves if today is the day, or if it’s their turn. Let me speak about the political ramifications of addressing gun violence. For the sake of politics alone, we need to address this issue. If we leave out one of the issues that is most directly impacting young and new voters before the next election, then we automatically cut our chances of winning back the White House. Democrats in congress should propose more comprehensive background checks, close loopholes in gun show purchases, and propose policies that allow for the removal of guns from individuals who are considered high risk due to mental health or relationship violence and draft those proposals in a way that will elicit bi-partisan support. To me, it’s really that simple. Remember the turnout of the March for our Lives protest in D.C. and around the country? They care. Young people are paying attention and know how to connect with each other to build a coalition. Do we want them to be civically active in future elections and vote for candidates who are fighting to end gun violence? Yes, we do. Also, republicans know that young voters care about this issue which increases the likelihood that some will attempt to cooperate when presented with proposed legislation.

The next issue I think we need to address is corruption. Maybe you’re confused about why I would think this is such an important issue, but may I point you to the person who makes this point most obvious to me, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Another person we cannot forget is Bernie Sanders. Why did we love him so much until the DNC took him out of play? He represented honesty in politics and was the only true representation of “by the people, for the people.” If we want people to believe that their vote matters, we need voices like Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, and Beto O’Rourke. In the midterms, across this country, we elected people who ran honest grassroots campaigns. Yes, we also elected establishment politicians who received corporate money, but there’s a trend and if we ignore it we’ll regret it. This country is truly being run by the wealthiest and the rest of us are left to fight over scraps.

Other issues that it’s time to tackle include criminal justice reform, health care coverage for all, raising wages for all, infrastructure investment, renewable energy, and tax reform for the people. Our government is getting out of control and Democrats, as a party, have played nice for too long. It’s time to get down to business. We can be as ruthless as the GOP has been since Reagan was in office. Being nice has gotten us into this big mess and being nasty is the only way to get out. Use our system to back the GOP into a corner so that they have to play along, or they die as a party. Use the nuclear option. Stack federal courts in our favor. Educate the young so that they can rise up and continue to fight for the people of this country. 

Now, do we go after the white house for Russian interference and collusion? Absolutely. But, if it looks at all like that is all we’re focused on, we’re setting ourselves up for a big loss in 2020. We can’t afford to take that risk. We have to think about the next presidential election. We have to get things done. The GOP and specifically 45, will be breathing down our necks and exposing every failure for the next two years. It will be part of their campaign messages. What’s your opinion on this matter? I’d like to know what you think is most important right now. What did I miss or get completely wrong?  – Michelle Durney-Croniser

Progressives have been waiting for this opportunity since the House or Representatives was lost in the 2010 elections. There is practically a laundry list of things that Democrats need to do with their newfound power, and they should do them all. Yes, the Senate is still controlled by the GOP and yes, the White House is controlled by an incompetent aspiring dictator, but this is the time to force the Republicans hands. If they are going to oppose key reforms and legislation that will help American families, then force them to vote against them. Throw everything at them and put them on the record of selling out the American people. When 2020 rolls around the Democrats will have the upper hand and the higher ground. These votes will be what the political adds in 2020 will be all about. The ads will practically write themselves. The two years between now and 2020 are crucial. Will Democrats use this moment and fight for working families and the working poor or squander a chance at real change?

Dale Seufert-Navarro

Contributor: Michelle Durney-Croniser

(UPDATE: It has been reported that the first bill introduced by the new Congress, H.R. 1, will have sweeping reforms to campaign finance, elections, and voting)