16. The Short Game: A Way Forward
The challenges to reversing the assault on our democracy appear formidable. And, they are. However, we can harness “people power” to prevail against those who undermine our democratic institutions in order to serve their interests.
History teaches us that organizing across all sectors of a society to promote a better future for all can overcome the stranglehold of a powerful minority.
Millions of women — many of them working-class, including teachers, nurses, factory workers, and farmers — organized for decades to win the right to vote, despite facing ridicule, arrests, and violence. They organized marches, strikes, and petition drives, and built alliances across regions and social classes. Their persistence led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which enfranchised millions of women and expanded American democracy.
During the Great Depression, millions of working Americans—many of whom were unemployed and struggling—organized into unions and community movements, demanding fair wages, better working conditions, and a voice in government. Their efforts helped pass the Wagner Act (1935) (protecting workers’ right to organize), Social Security, minimum wage laws, and public jobs programs that created millions of jobs.
Ordinary Black Americans, many of whom were low-wage workers, domestic workers, and farmers, organized boycotts, sit-ins, marches, and voter-registration drives despite facing extreme violence and intimidation. Their courage led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, effectively dismantling the Jim Crow laws.
As outlined in Post #11, Reforming Our Laws, to establish a viable liberal democracy, we must pass legislation during the first session of Congress in 2029 in areas like campaign finance reform, fair and representative elections, and a non-partisan, ethical Supreme Court, among others. Additionally, we need to reverse the damage caused during the four years of the Trump administration and the Republican Congress. We should deliver real benefits to the American people that will improve everyone's lives and begin rebuilding their trust in government.
We need everyone to recognize their potential as agents of transformation, regardless of their background and circumstances. We must focus on achievable goals and build momentum and credibility that will lead to larger systemic change. Our organizing principle is to engage as many Americans as possible on each of three levels (local, state, and national) in advocating for the issues important to them at each level and supporting organizations they believe can make a difference. (see Post #17, Civic Engagement for the Short Game)
Organizing a broad coalition of organizations across America that share democratic values has the best chance of success. Interconnected networks are forming to leverage their membership and resources. No King’s Day on June 14 was an example of how well this collaboration can work. In one of the largest public demonstrations in American history, over 5 million people gathered in more than 2,000 communities to express their views in their own words about the importance of restoring the rule of law and democratic norms, as well as rejecting authoritarian overreach (https://www.nokings.org/partners).
Our shared vision is an America that works for everyone, not just a few.
Our short-term goals are:
Win a significant majority (230+) in the House of Representatives in 2026 and 2028
Win possibly a majority in 2026 (51) and a clear majority (52+) in the Senate in 2028
Win the presidency in 2028
Our short-term strategy is to organize across the country in five critical areas (prevention, protection, promotion, public awareness, and preparation):
1. Prevention
In its first four months, the Trump administration has revealed a plan to weaken the rule of law and concentrate power in the president's office. Over 400 lawsuits have been filed to block the executive orders and abuses of power. The conservative-dominated Supreme Court seems ready to break with precedents and sound legal reasoning to allow the president to expand his power. Still, the judiciary has been the only check on the unprecedented wave of controversial actions taken by the Trump administration, as the Republican-controlled Congress has surrendered much of its authority to the executive branch.
One of the most serious threats will be the Republicans’ attempts to weaken free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028. If their policies are unpopular with most Americans, the Republicans will double down on preventing non-supporters from voting and undermining election results when they dislike the outcomes. (see Post 17, Civic Engagement for the Short Game)
The path forward requires us to:
Increase donations to legal organizations that are blocking or reversing presidential executive orders and administrative actions that are unconstitutional and illegal.
Publicly support advocacy organizations that advocate for the rights of immigrants and citizens, voting rights, and the prevention of election interference, among other causes.
Monitor & expose abuses in real time. Build or support rapid-response watchdog teams that document, analyze, and publicize legal violations, disinformation, and voter suppression efforts as they happen.
Prepare litigation pipelines. Coordinate with state attorneys general, city attorneys, and law clinics to have pre-drafted lawsuits and injunction requests ready for likely abuses, especially regarding voting rights, surveillance, and purges—fund legal challenges to voter suppression and gerrymandering.
Train poll workers and legal observers. Ensure there are enough trained, impartial observers to document and respond to intimidation, disenfranchisement, or disinformation at the polls.
Pressure corporations. Organize shareholder and public campaigns to discourage corporations from funding or enabling anti-democratic actors, such as funding voter suppression bills or aiding surveillance efforts.
Push for state-level resilience. Where possible, strengthen state-level protections for voting access, ballot integrity, and election certification processes. Support state-level initiatives (ballot measures, lawsuits) to expand early voting, mail-in ballots, and fair redistricting.
1. Protection
Many individuals and institutions are under threat, not only for deportation, but also for speaking out against the Trump administration’s policies and its favored people and organizations.
The path forward requires us to stand up for these individuals and institutions by speaking out and using non-violent resistance to prevent enforcement. There are hundreds of organizations at all levels worth joining and supporting. Mass demonstrations targeted at specific violations of civil liberties and imprisonment of innocent Americans will help diminish the impact of the Trump administration’s policies and actions.
The way ahead requires us to:
Set up emergency support networks. Establish hotlines, legal aid, and safe spaces for individuals and organizations targeted by harassment, ICE raids, doxxing, or SLAPP lawsuits.
Digital security. Provide resources and training to activists, journalists, and candidates on securing their communications and defending against hacking, doxxing, or surveillance.
Community defense. Train and organize nonviolent, community-based “witness” teams to physically show up at threatened institutions (like mosques, community centers, clinics) to deter violence and harassment.
Minimize provoking violence. Demand that the media stop glorifying the perpetrators of violence so as not to encourage more violence and to prevent the public from being intimidated from protesting. Keeping demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience peaceful will remove the fuel for triggering a reaction by paramilitary groups, overreaction by authoritarian law enforcement, and fascist messaging.
Scenario planning. Prepare contingency plans for severe disruptions — for example, what to do if a state refuses to certify election results, or federal troops are deployed to suppress protests. (see Appendix 4 - Worst Case Scenario)
2. Promotion
The path forward requires us to elect pro-social representatives at all levels of government, not just at the national level (see Post #4, Electing Pro-Social Representatives in America)
As a federal system of government, states and localities have key responsibilities for creating, implementing, and enforcing laws within their jurisdictions. Republicans control all three branches of state government in 23 states, while Democrats control all three in 15 states. Twenty-seven governors are Republican and 23 are Democrats. There are 4,076 Republican state legislators, compared to 3,211 Democrats and 99 independents. Local school boards, councils, commissions, and regional and state authorities play vital roles in interpreting how laws are enforced and setting spending priorities. (see Appendix 5 – Current Composition of State Legislatures)
·Encourage charismatic and competent individuals to run for office at all levels and assist them in building the campaign infrastructure necessary to overcome their opponents' financial advantages.
Support grassroots candidate pipelines. Offer training, mentorship, and resources to help local leaders — especially women, young people, and people of color — to step into politics at every level.
Communicate effectively to low-propensity voters, low-information voters, working-class voters, rural voters, and younger voters about the tangible benefits of electing these representatives. Undertake a massive voter registration and turnout among all these groups.
Organize across sectors and ideologies, and mobilize across socio-economic groups to build momentum that persuades voters these candidates are their best choice.
We should not understate the effort the opposition will use to intimidate and defame candidates who do not support their view of the world. The prosocial candidates need a strong backwind to propel them into office and to help them afterwards.
3. Public Awareness and Messaging
Public messaging campaigns. Use viral videos, memes, and social media campaigns not only to debunk lies (defense), but also to tell compelling stories of real harm caused by authoritarian policies (offense). Highlight and frame wins and resistance efforts as victories, no matter how small, to maintain high morale and demonstrate progress. Present facts in compelling stories that persuade. Use values-based language such as fairness, freedom, dignity, family, and the future. Offer hope and solutions while exposing abuses.
·Engage the courts of public opinion. Beyond lawsuits, utilize cultural channels — such as art, music, and humor — to counter authoritarian messaging and bolster morale.
Sign people up across the country to a pledge to defend fundamental freedoms at the ballot box from authoritarianism (see Appendix 4 for examples of pledges)
Track and publicize enablers. Identify and publicize the individuals and institutions (donors, lawyers, tech companies, and media figures) that enable undemocratic behavior, thereby creating social and economic pressure.
Amplify dissenting voices. Utilize social media and traditional media to provide platforms for those being silenced or intimidated, ensuring their stories reach a broad audience.
Invest in civic education campaigns. Combat disinformation and apathy by explaining — in plain language — how policies affect people’s daily lives and how to vote effectively.
Fund independent media. Strengthen local journalism and independent fact-checking to counter the narrative control of state-aligned or corporate media.
Create coalitions across issues and identities. Foster alliances between climate, labor, racial justice, faith-based, and business groups to show broad, united support for democratic principles and social progress.
4. Preparation
The pro-social movement needs to develop a long-term plan to transition the country from crony capitalism and an authoritarian-leaning system of government to a social democracy. It could be called Project 2029and provide the specific executive orders, bills, and implementation steps that will be taken in the first term of the new president.
To provide a coherent explanation and a sound, theoretical, and well-researched foundation for Project 2029, a group of leading scholars and policy experts should write the Social Democracy Papers, similar to the Federalist Papers, to explain why social democracy is the best form of governance for the US and a logical choice for enabling America to fulfill its promise.
Key Actions 2025 to 2028
2025: Organize in All 50 States, Build Multi-Sector Coalitions
Key Actions:
Grassroots Infrastructure: Establish a permanent Democratic presence in every state, especially in rural, suburban, and historically red districts. This means funding local organizers, training volunteers, and investing in voter engagement on a year-round basis.
Multi-Sector Coalitions: Build broad alliances across labor unions, small businesses, civil rights groups, environmental organizations, faith-based communities, and youth-led movements.
Messaging Strategy: Develop clear, values-driven messaging focused on economic security, democracy, and freedom (e.g., "Freedom to Thrive: A Government That Works for You").
Voter Registration & Protection: Expand automatic voter registration, fight voter suppression laws, and ensure legal support for election protection.
Measurable Goals:
Register 10+ million new voters in key states by 2026.
Build statewide organizing hubs in every battleground state.
Recruit a new generation of progressive candidates for local and state offices.
2026: Run Strong Pro-Social Candidates to Win Back the House
Key Actions:
Candidate Pipeline: Recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds who champion economic and social democracy. Prioritize strong communicators with working-class appeal.
Down-Ballot Strategy: Focus on state legislatures, governorships, and local races to prevent Republican-led gerrymandering and election subversion.
Direct Voter Engagement: Massive field operation using relational organizing, digital outreach, and innovative GOTV strategies.
Defend Democracy: Introduce legislation in blue states that protects election integrity and facilitates easier voting.
Measurable Goals:
Win a House majority (net gain of at least 18-22 seats).
Secure a 51-49 majority in the Senate by flipping net four seats in the Senate (Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Alaska) while defending seats (Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada).
Flip state legislatures in key swing states (e.g., Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, and Wisconsin).
Ensure record youth and Latino voter turnout by investing in year-round outreach.
2027: Stop the Takeover and Continue Organizing
Key Actions:
Legislative Action: Utilize the Democratic House majority to advance bold, pro-worker legislation (e.g., increasing the minimum wage, implementing universal pre-K, promoting tax fairness).
Expose Republican Extremism: Continue investigations into authoritarian threats, corporate corruption, and election interference.
Expand Grassroots Power: Organizing must not stop after 2026. Invest in permanent local offices in battleground states.
Narrative Shift: Frame 2028 as a choice between democracy and plutocracy, security and chaos, fairness and corruption.
Measurable Goals:
Secure Democratic control of at least 30 governorships and 35+ state legislatures to prevent Republican voter suppression.
Enact strong economic and voting rights policies in every state with a Democratic-controlled government.
2028: Win the Senate and the Presidency
Key Actions:
Presidential Campaign Focus:
o Run on a message of economic security, democracy, and a fair economy that delivers real benefits to Americans.
o Frame Republicans as the party of corporate elites and chaos, blocking progress for working families.
Senate Strategy: Target Senate seats in swing states (e.g., Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio).
Massive Turnout Strategy:
o Mobilize youth, suburban voters, and Black & Latino communities.
o Expand mail-in voting, early voting, and same-day registration where possible.
Measurable Goals:
Win the Presidency with a strong mandate for economic transformation.
Secure a solid Senate majority (at least 52+ seats).
Expand Democratic control of the House to 230+ seats to push major legislation.
Conclusion
Restoring our democratic institutions, winning the presidency, and building a strong majority in both the House and Senate are crucial for guiding America toward fulfilling its promise. The future depends on educating the American people about why it’s in their best interest to implement significant reforms and invest in new programs and policies that benefit everyone, not just a select few. Simply winning isn’t enough. The programs and policies established in 2029 will determine whether Americans ultimately support a new direction—toward a vibrant social democracy.
Appendices
1. Background Reading
Big-picture framework:
· American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century
(https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/report)· Brookings Institution, Democracy Playbook 2025 —
(https://www.brookings.edu/articles/democracy-playbook-2025)· Brennan Center for Justice — Democracy Program
(https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/)Action steps:
· Indivisible, A Practical Guide To Democracy On The Brink: Strategies, Tactics, & Tips For How Everyday Americans Can Fight Back Together Wherever We Live. (https://indivisible.org/resource/guide)
· David Pepper, Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American: 2nd Edition: The Trump Era (June 23, 2025)
2. Worst Case Scenario: Trump and Republican Party Strategy
Legislative & Policy Pathways
Expand and entrench the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
● Lock in tax cuts and deregulation that favor corporations and the ultra-wealthy, making them hard to reverse even under future administrations.
● Cut social spending and privatize services (Medicare, Medicaid, public education), shifting resources from the public to the private sector.
● Redirect federal grants and contracts to businesses aligned with Trump and his allies, including donor-owned companies.
Weaponize the budget and debt.
● Create a fiscal crisis (through massive deficits and debt from tax cuts and spending) that is then used as justification to slash the safety net, shrink federal programs, and privatize public goods.
● Use federal funds as carrots and sticks to coerce state and local governments into compliance with his policies.
Judicial & Legal Consolidation
Courts as enablers
● Appoint more loyalist judges to the federal bench to uphold executive power, roll back regulations, weaken voting rights, and protect corporations.
● Use the Supreme Court (already leaning his way) to interpret laws in ways that benefit his agenda — e.g., limits on union power, campaign finance restrictions, and environmental protections.
Immunity and impunity
● Engineer legal protections for himself, his family, and allies to escape accountability.
● Use the DOJ selectively to punish opponents and shield supporters, reinforcing loyalty.
Political Control & Party Domination
GOP loyalty
● Purge dissenting voices from the Republican Party and replace them with candidates who pledge loyalty.
● Funnel campaign cash and endorsements exclusively to loyalists, deepening his control over the party apparatus.
Election manipulation
● Continue gerrymandering congressional districts to dilute the votes of the opposition.
● Further restrict voting rights, particularly among groups more likely to oppose him.
● Intimidate or replace election officials with partisans who may challenge unfavorable results.
Propaganda & Cultural Dominance
Media and message
● Maintain a relentless narrative of “success,” feeding supporters stories of wins (military, economy, border) regardless of reality.
● Encourage or compel mainstream media outlets (or their owners, through business pressure) to treat him more favorably.
● Utilize social media and friendly platforms to disseminate disinformation and erode trust in independent journalism.
International Leverage
Foreign policy as domestic advantage
● Utilize foreign policy (such as NATO shakedowns, Middle East strikes, or trade threats) to rally nationalist sentiment and divert attention from domestic failures.
● Encourage foreign investments and deals that enrich allies and donors.
● Cement ties with authoritarian regimes that can support him (financially, rhetorically, or digitally) in future elections.
Surveillance & Policing
Expand executive policing power.
● Further empower DHS, ICE, and DOJ to monitor, intimidate, or detain political opponents or activists under the guise of security.
● Use military or paramilitary forces in domestic operations to project strength and suppress dissent.
Why Might This Work?
Because Trump has three key assets:
● An intensely loyal base that accepts his narrative and disregards criticism.
● The Republican Party is increasingly dependent on him for money, votes, and power.
● Institutions (courts, Senate, media conglomerates) that are more constrained or co-opted than in his first term.
Even if his policies are unpopular with a majority, he doesn’t necessarily need a majority — just the right voters in the right states, with enough institutional control to tilt the field.
3. Examples of Pledges
To Defend Freedom at the Ballot Box Pledge
On July 4, 1776, a group of audacious citizens declared to the world that “all men are created equal,” and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defend that radical idea. For all the limits of their vision — blind to women and the enslavement of Black and Indigenous people — their words lit a fire that has burned through every generation since. Eighty-seven years later, as a brutal civil war tested whether a nation “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could endure, Abraham Lincoln stood at Gettysburg and called on Americans to resolve “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
We find ourselves in another similar moment. Just as in 1776 and 1860, we face a rebellion against the founding principle of equality — a movement determined to make some Americans less than others, to silence dissent, and to strip rights from the many in service of the few. Today, patriotism means more than pride; it means sacrifice. It means choosing service over cynicism, courage over comfort, justice over indifference. It means taking up the unfinished work of those who came before us — to expand liberty, defend the dignity of every person, and keep the promise of democracy alive.
I pledge my loyalty to that cause: to stand with those who serve others, to oppose those who would undo the progress of generations, and to help ensure that this nation experiences a new birth of freedom — not just for some, but for all.
Name:_________________________________ Date:___/___/___
Core American Freedoms Pledge
These freedoms — of speech and conscience, of assembly and participation, of justice and equality—define the promise of America. I believe that defending them nonviolently in times of threat is the highest form of patriotism today.
Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly, and Petition
(First Amendment) — to speak our minds, practice our beliefs, gather together, and hold the government accountable.
Freedom to Vote in Free and Fair Elections
(15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments) — The right of every citizen, regardless of race, sex, or income, to choose their leaders.
Freedom from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
(Fourth Amendment) — the right to privacy and security in our homes and lives.
Right to Due Process and Equal Protection under the Laws
(Fifth & Fourteenth Amendments) — Ensuring justice is applied fairly to everyone.
Freedom from Cruel and Unusual Punishment
(Eighth Amendment) — Protecting the dignity of every person.
Freedom to Be Free from Slavery or Involuntary Servitude
(Thirteenth Amendment) — Affirming the inherent freedom of every individual.
Right to a Fair and Speedy Trial by Jury
(Sixth & Seventh Amendments) — guaranteeing justice in courts.
Right to Personal and Bodily Autonomy & Privacy
(derived from due process & liberty guarantees).
Name:_________________________________ Date:___/___/___
4. Current Composition of State Legislatures
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition
State Legislators: There are 7,386 total legislative seats throughout the 99 state legislative chambers. The total number of legislators in the nation, including the territories and the District of Columbia, is 7578.
State Chamber Control: While there are 99 state chambers in total, Nebraska's legislature is unicameral, so it is not included in this chart, as members are elected on a nonpartisan basis. Therefore, this represents partisan control in 98 chambers.
State Legislative Control: When the same party holds both chambers, that party has legislative control. When different parties hold the chambers, it is divided. Nebraska is omitted.
State Control: When the same party holds both legislative chambers and the governorship, that party has state control. When another party holds any of those three points of power, state control is divided. This is based on the number of members of each party, and does not take into account coalitions that might change effective control. Nebraska is omitted.