Mass. Democratic leaders say now is the time to set up guardrails for a second Trump term

Soon after the race was called, Massachusetts political leaders expressed dismay and disappointment over President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. The Democrats also sent a resolute message that they'd work to protect the party's agenda before a new government takes office.

But in the face of limited time and a Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate, the leaders are pinning some of these hopes on strengthening their ties within the judiciary branch.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who handily defeated her Republican challenger Tuesday, said the Democrats will use "every single day" of the final two months that they control the Senate to confirm pending federal judicial appointments

"While we don't have the Supreme Court, while I understand that Donald Trump and Republicans may put additional people into the slots that come open later on, I still think it's important to have a judiciary that is independent and make sure that we have confirmed as many of our nominees as possible," Warren said on WBUR's Morning Edition.

Describing the results of the presidential election as "grim," Warren insisted now is the time to take action.

"This is not a time just to fold up our tents and say, 'Well, the Republicans are taking over after January 3rd, in Congress, so let's not do anything,' " she said.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss called the losses for the Democratic party of the presidency and Senate "devastating."

"The first order of business is guardrails," he said on WBUR's Morning Edition. "We need to build guardrails throughout our federal republic, in our courts of law, in media, in civil society and most importantly, in the U.S. House of Representatives, because it is the firewall for democracy."

Auchincloss attributed the losses partially to the high cost of living.

"Now we can talk about real wages going up, we can talk about job growth surging, we can talk about the robust recovery of the U.S. economy relative to other developed economies," said Auchincloss. "But the simple, plain truth is rent, Groceries, energy bills inflated and it demoralized Americans and they responded at the polls."

Auchincloss, who was unopposed, secured another term on Capitol Hill Tuesday night.

Rep. Seth Moulton, who also won re-election Tuesday after running unopposed, had strong words for his party. He said that Democrats are “just so clearly out of touch” with Americans.

“It's not enough just to feel that you're right or to tell everybody that Trump is going to be terrible,” said Moulton on WBUR's All Things Considered. “We need to listen better. We need to connect better with Americans and their real concerns if we're going to ever have a chance of coming back.”

Moulton also cited Americans’ economic anxieties as a reason Democrats lost on election night. Mouton said that the Harris campaign did not do enough to separate the vice president from the decisions of President Biden when it came to inflation and the economy.

“This should have been an easy win, and yet we got crushed,” said Moulton. “We need to do some serious looking in the mirror.”

Rep. Jim McGovern, who fended off a challenge from an independent candidate, said he was "concerned" about the country under Trump.

"I worry about our democracy," said McGovern on Morning Edition. "And look, I think the American people, we all know who he is. We've all heard his words, including his threat to use the military against the enemy within. I mean, I think you have to take him at his word."

While McGovern said he respects "people's right to make their own decisions," he said found it "disappointing" that people voted for Trump "knowing full well what he said and what he stands for."

On the state level, Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell told reporters on Wednesday they are making efforts to protect the rights of Massachusetts residents if Trump enacts policies restricting reproductive health and immigration.

Campbell said her office has been in contact with other attorneys general around the country and is exploring how to respond to the president-elect's plan for mass deportations.

Trump has said he would use local and federal law enforcement agencies to deport millions of undocumented people living in the country. Studies show more than 100,000 people live in Massachusetts without legal status.

Campbell was asked whether she'd be able to stop local law enforcement from participating in a so-called "deportation force."

"We will see," she responded. "I just want folks to know we are prepared for every scenario — obviously when he was president before, he led and started with a ban on certain populations and certain constituents, we are well aware of that, and AGs came together then, to work in partnership to combat that administration."

Massachusetts was one of the states that sued to block Trump's travel ban barring people from certain Muslim-majority countries when he last took office.

In addition, Campbell promised Massachusetts will continue to lead. (Watch her full speech, here.)

"We will certainly be the ones to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law and democracy, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, environmental protections, and so much more," Campbell said.

As attorney general, current Gov. Maura Healey regularly pursued legal action against the Trump administration.

At a press conference earlier in the day, Healey said she is committed to protect women's reproductive rights, no matter what's happening at the federal level. (Watch her full speech here.)

She said the state will continue to make sure women are protected, adding reminders of actions she's taken as governor already.

"I signed an executive order to ensure that we have full access to needed health care, including abortion care in the state," Healey said. "I also stockpiled mifepristone, as you know."

Healey also noted she will keep pursuing priorities like lowering housing costs, bolstering the offshore wind industry and keeping public education in the state strong.

She spoke about how she strives to be a governor for everyone, and supports a peaceful transfer of power.

"In moments like this, I also think it's important to remind everyone that this great country of ours is bigger than any one person alone," Healey said. "We all have a role to play in building the kind of community, state and country that we want for our children."

With additional reporting by WBUR's Walter Wuthmann