Len’s Letter #77 What we can learn from Texas and Alaska

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March 8^th, 2025       Len’s Letter #77 What we can learn from Texas and Alaska

 2025

Does the American public believe the Democrats? Did they believe them in 2024? The Democrats’ opposed and still oppose the destruction of American Democracy by a megalomaniacal Donald Trump; the destruction of American integrity by Donald Trump; the destruction to American commitment to the rule of law by Donald Trump.

Let me ask a different question. Do the Democrats act like American democracy and the nation’s integrity and the rule of law are in danger?  While the Democrats remain relatively immobile, we all watch the President of the United States berate an ally fighting for democracy and his nation’s integrity.

While the Democrats remain relatively immobile, unable to act, they say, because they do not have a majority in either the House of Senate, individual Republicans challenge Cabinet level appointments only when they cannot have an effect on even the worst nominees being confirmed. Republican Members of Congress and Senators roar in approval for Donald Trump.

While the Democrats watched ineffectually, we have an anti-vaxxer as Secretary of HHS, an extreme belligerent (against women and maybe against others — he hired a press secretary who thinks Leo Frank got what he deserved) as Defense Secretary, an Attorney General willing to do the President’s bidding and many more terrible appointments.

While the Democrats have watched ineffectually, Elon Musk (who Trump insists is not actually in charge of DOGE) dismantles department after department, agency after agency.  USAID can no longer undermine dictators and provide assistance to the neediest around the world.  The IRS has been disabled in its movement toward collecting taxes from the wealthiest among us.  The Social Security Administration is being dismantled, perhaps as a precursor to privatizing the program and/or reducing the social security benefit.

While the Democrats cheer them on. it is insufficient that the Courts rule against Trump time after time.  The Courts rarely have the capacity to follow up to see if Trump  follows their rulings.  And the Courts have no mechanism at all to ensure the rulings are followed.

Me.  I would want the courts to appoint special masters who report back to the them. I would want different appointed special masters to take over departments that do not comply.

Meanwhile, encouraged by the Democrats cheers and stunned by Republican roars, many think the problems are being solved.  But problems are not solved.  Democracy and the rule of law and American integrity are eroded.

Can Europe take America’s place internationally?  The Europeans try. They develop peace proposals.  They make commitments to the Ukrainians.  They promise to serve as peacekeepers when there is a peace. The Europeans offer more weapons than they have offered in the past.  They plan to increase the size of their own military budgets.

Trump was wrong, of course, in saying the Europeans made little or no commitment to the Ukrainian war.  The Europeans spent more than the US.  But much of that spending was for humanitarian purposes, support for refugees, for instance.

Democrats watch the developments in Europe uncertainly.  Republicans watch with skeptical contempt.  The Europeans acknowledge they cannot fully replace the United States and the Republicans agree.  The Republicans seem to be willing to help Donald Trump turn Ukraine over to Russia.

Much of the public watches and is encouraged by the Europeans.  If Trump can cow Zelensky or if the Europeans strive to take our place, the world will appear normal.  Are the Democrats doing anything that persuades us Trump’s world is not normal?  They seem unable to do anything, perhaps because they don’t have a majority in either the House or the Senate.

Something the Democrats can do

 The Democratic leadership in the US House and the US Senate can take a stand.  They can follow the lead of legislators in Alaska and Texas. Even if they do not succeed, the very attempt will demonstrate the Democratic Party’s seriousness, its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and American integrity

Look at Alaska. Democrats are part of a legislative coalition in the Alaska House and Senate. 

Alaska’s House of Representatives

This is a 40 member body.  As a result of the 2024 elections:

• 21 are Republicans,
• 14 are Democrats.
• 5 are independent.

The majority coalition, however, has:

• 14 Democrats
• 5 Independents
• 2 Republicans

The 19 remaining Republicans are in the minority.

Alaska’s House leadership includes Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

The House Member in charge?  Representative Bryce Edgmon, an Independent, is the Speaker.  Next in charge?  Majority Leader Chuck Kopp is a Republican.

The committee chairs include Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Here are a few of the most powerful committees and their chairs:

            Finance Committee, Neal Foster, a Democrat

            Operating Budget, Andy Josephson, a Democrat

            Capital Budget, Calvin Schrage, an Independent

            Rules Committee, Louise Stutes, a Republican

            Resource Committee, co-chairs Maxine Dibert and Robyn Burke, both Democrats

The House leadership is a mix of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The Alaska Beacon reported on their agreed upon priorities: “Funding Alaska schools in a stable way, addressing energy needs, reforming public employee retirements and balancing the state budget”

 

Alaska’s State Senate

This is a 20 member body.

As a result of the 2024 elections:

• 11 are Republicans,
• 9 are Democrats.

The majority coalition, however, has:

• 9 Democrats
• 5 Republicans

The remaining 6 Republicans are in the minority.

Alaska’s Senate leadership includes only Republicans. Senator Gary Stevens, a Republican, is the Senate President. Senator Cathy Giessel, a Republican, is the Majority Leader. Senator Kelly Merrick, a Republican, is the Majority Whip

The committee chairs are mixed. Here are a few of the most powerful committees and their chairs:

            Finance Committee, Operating: Senator Lyman Hoffman, a Democrat

            Finance Committee, Capital: Senator Bert Stedman, a Republican

            Finance Committee, Bills: Senator Donny Olson, a Democrat

            Rules Committee: Senator Bill Wielechowski, a Democrat

            Legislative Budget & Audit Committee: Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, a Democrat

Their priorities?  The Senate Majority Coalition reports that their goal is to strengthen the state’s economy and to minimize partisan differences.

The House and Senate ruling coalitions were created to avoid leadership by extremist Republicans.  Coalitions have become characteristic of the Alaskan legislature.  During the last legislature, the Republicans were more powerful than they are now.  Nevertheless, they too had a governing coalition.

 

Texas’s House of Representatives

This is a 150 member body.  As a result of the 2024 elections:

• 88 are Republicans,
• 62 are Democrats.

The majority coalition, however, has:

• 49 Democrats
• 36 Republicans

The remaining 55 Republicans are in the minority. Thirteen Democrats form another minority.

 Texas’s House Leadership includes Republicans and Democrats. The Speaker is Representative Dustin Burrows, a Republican. The Speaker Pro Tem is Joseph E Moody, a Democrat

The committee chairs are all Republicans.  The Vice Chairs are all Democrats. Here is what the leadership of some of the most powerful committees looks like.

Chair, Appropriations: Greg Bonnen a Republican; Vice Chair Mary Gonzales, Democrat

Chair, Delivery of Government Efficiency: Giovanni Capriglione a Republican; Vice Chair Salmi Bhojani, Democrat

Chair, Human Services: Lacey Hull a Republican; Vice Chair Christian Manuel, Democrat

Chair, Public Education: Brad Buckley a Republican; Vice Chair Diego Bernal, Democrat

Chair, Public Health: Gary VanDeaver a Republican; Vice Chair Elizabeth “Liz” Campos, Democrat

Chair, Ways and Means: Morgan Meyer a Republican; Vice Chair Trey Martinez Fischer, Democrat

The Texas House of Representatives has a history of Republican leadership with some Democrats as Committee Chairs.  The leadership of the majority coalition has had to beat back insurgent, more extreme Republicans who wanted sole Republican control. The moderate Republicans retreated a little. They changed who the coalition leader was and no Democrats actually chair committees.  They lost a few coalition members in primaries, but not enough to change how the Texas House is run. The Republicans who are in the minority are threatening more primaries next time.

Could Democrats achieve coalition control against extremist Republicans in the US House and Senate?

 US Senate

Achieving a change in the Senate is harder and easier than it would be in the House.  The majority leader is the person elected as the head of the majority party.  I don’t know if Senate rules allow a change in mid-stream. The party leadership may lean toward being moderate Republicans than in the House, but we all know there are only a few Republicans who have defied Donald Trump.

Some Republicans may be more willing to defy Trump may after watching the Trump-Zelensky spectacle. Some may be less willing after watching Trump’s speech to Congress.  Their willingness to defy Trump may have increased after Trump has again, unconstitutionally, held up money for Ukraine.  This kind of behavior led to Trump’s impeachment the first time. Their willingness to defy Trump may lessen if Trump can create peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Unlike some of his actions, Trump appears to have the authority to impose tariffs as he has done.  The tariffs and the inflation that they contribute to may make some Republicans more willing to create obstacles for Trump.

The Senators who could respond positively to an invitation to join a new Senate leadership coalition?  You need at least four.

• Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who was, she said, sick to her stomach watching the Trump orchestrated meeting with Zelensky.
• John Curtis of Utah who replaced Mitt Romney. Curtis appears to share Romney’s desire to be a moderate Republican and exceeds Romney in his willingness to actually defy Trump.

After that you wonder if Mitch McConnell would be willing.  He detests Donald Trump. He has a life-long loyalty to the Republican Party.  Which would be more important to him?

And you wonder if Susan Collins would join her occasional partner, Lisa Murkowski, as a leading moderate.  2026 is an election year for Susan Collins. Would joining a coalition with Democrats help her or hurt her? At a minimum, Democrats would have to promise to keep her as Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

And there are others.  One columnist writing about Senators who were the strongest supporters of Ukraine included Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Todd Young of Indiana,

These are some Republicans for the Democrats to talk with.  While Democrats need four Republican Senators to actually achieve such a coalition, Democratic willingness to pursue a coalition would demonstrate how alarmed they are for American democracy, American integrity, and the rule of law in the United States by Donald Trump’s actions

US House

The current Congress is the 119^th. The previous one was the 118^th. In the 118^th Congress, a single Member of the majority party could initiate a vote on replacing the Speaker.  As a result of the chaotic process of selecting a new speaker, the rules were changed. In the 119^th it would take nine members of the majority party to initiate a vote on replacing the Speaker.

Are there nine Republican Members of the House who are so distressed by Trump’s relationship with Putin, they would join a coalition with Democrats to attempt to place limits on Trump’s behavior.

They could begin with the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and follow up with members of the Taiwan Caucus.  Then there are Members with special issues:

• Mike Turner (OH 10) was ousted from his position as Chair of the House Intelligence Committee and from the Committee itself. Would he join the coalition and be returned to the Committee as Vice Chair?
• Don Bacon (NE 02) spent 29 years in the Air Force before retiring in 2014. He was identified in 2009 as Europe’s top wing commander. Chair of a subcommittee of the Armed Forces committee, would he be interested in a newly created Vice Chairmanship of the committee by the new majority coalition?  Would he want to take such a step to oppose Trump’s efforts to end opposition to Russia?

Can the Democrats find nine members willing to cooperate?

Would other commitments be required?  That they retain their upgraded committee assignments for the 120^thCongress if they are reelected?  Even if there is a Democratic majority elected in 2026?

Giving leadership positions in a coalition to the members of the Nine to this Congress and the next would hamper Democrats from achieving their goals.  That is a lot to give up and that is the point. The threat to American Democracy and American integrity and to the rule of law by Donald Trump’s megalomaniacal vision and behavior is so serious that some goals are less important than creating obstacles to Donald Trump.

 

 

Len’s Letter #77 is about what Democratic legislators can do. What can we do now?  We have elections less than a month away.   Now would be a good time to donate money to candidates for those elections.

 Florida Special Congressional Elections. April 1

Florida 01: Gay Valimont is the Democratic nominee.  Gay Valimont is the former head of the Florida Chapter of Mom’s Demand Action, a gun safety organization.  She has returned to politics after two family tragedies and she understands how Republican her district is. She is both courageous and energetic enough to give it her all in a very tough cause. Her opponent is the former CFO for the state of Florida.  He proposed using Florida tax money to defend Donald Trump in his criminal trials. That proposal was too extreme even for the Florida legislature.  DONATE to Gay Valimont.   See Len’s Political Note #694.

Florida 06:  Josh Weil is the Democratic nominee.  He is a teacher of middle school boys who have not been able to remain in typical classrooms, a job that may be  tougher than seeking election as a Democrat in FL 06.  Originally exercised by the 2020 Democratic losses in Florida, he describes his commitment to his own children and his students as energizing his campaign.  His opponent is Randy Fine, wealthy from the gaming industry, an opponent of rights for members of the LGBTQ community, an opponent of abortion.  Fine is convinced that God saved Donald Trump so he could be president.  DONATE TO Josh Weil.  See Len’s Political Note #704.

New York Special Election – Date still unknown

New York 21.  Blake Gendebien will be the Democratic nominee.  There was opposition, but no primary. He persuaded all 15 of the Democratic Party Chairs, who New York state law give the authority to select the candidate, to support him.  He is a dairy farmer, not a politician.  But he knows enough about politics to be successful. We have no idea who the Republican nominee will be.  It appears that the Republican Party chairs don’t know much more than we do about who their nominee will be.  Furthermore, none of us know when this special election will be.  We won’t know until the Congresswoman, who has been nominated to be Trump’s Ambassador to the UN, is confirmed by the Senate and resigns from Congress.  Help Blake Gendebien maintain his head start. DONATE to his campaign.

 

Wisconsin – General Election April 1

 

State Supreme Court

Support Democratic County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford against former Attorney General Brad Schimel.   Currently Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has a 4-3 Democratic majority.  Susan Crawford is running to replace a Democratic justice who is retiring.  A Republican win would give the court a 4-3 Republican majority.   This race is crucial for preserving the right to abortion in Wisconsin, for preserving an un-gerrymandered state legislature and eliminating voter suppression. This will be a very expensive election. Republicans are geared up.  DONATE to Susan Crawford.  See Len’s Political Note #684

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Support Democratic incumbent Jill Underly in the primary and in the general election.  Jill underly serves as a bulwark against right wing culture war positions. DONATE.  Keep a successful Democrat in a leadership role in Wisconsin.  See Len’s Political Note #693.

 

North Carolina Supreme Court

Support Allison Riggs in her post-election legal battles.  DONATE. Help her win the election months after she actually won her election.  See Len’s Political Note #594