These are soul-searching days for Democrats, a as they attempt to comprehend why and the White Home and battle to seek out their manner again from political purgatory.
The examination extends even as far as San Francisco, a spot famed for its liberalism and smugness, the place the inward-looking reflection started even earlier than Trump’s
In 2022, voters of the college board, who appeared extra intent on symbolic gestures, corresponding to to erase the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Paul Revere, than pupil achievement. A number of months later, the district lawyer, in response to his perceived bleeding-heart method to public security.
Persevering with apace, voters in November elected a political newcomer and , as mayor and punctuated the sentiment by gifting him a extra simpatico Board of Supervisors at San Francisco’s baroque Metropolis Corridor.
In the identical vein, the town’s Democratic Celebration, , has moved nearer to the center, electing a frontrunner who sees Trump’s election and improved standing on this blue bastion as a kind of moments when crimson lights flash and sirens are blaring.
“One of many points with the Democratic Celebration proper now could be that a lot of social gathering politics, particularly on the native degree, has been largely performative and probably not related to the on a regular basis lives of working individuals,” stated the native social gathering chair, Nancy Tung. “And I feel we’re seeing the backlash now nationally.”
San Francisco is just not about to show right into a hillier model of Kansas, or turn into Alabama with views of the Pacific. Trump acquired 6,000 extra votes right here in November than he did 4 years in the past and boosted his help by 2.5%. Nonetheless, he misplaced to Kamala Harris, , by practically 65 share factors.
Tung’s politics also needs to be put in some perspective. She checks all of the Democratic packing containers — pro-choice, anti-Trump and on — and laughingly jokes that in lots of locations she’d be referred to as a communist. However Tung is a centrist and the town’s political pendulum, which has lengthy oscillated between left and much left, has clearly swung her route.
Folks “can name me no matter they need,” she stated over lunch within the metropolis’s Mission District. “I feel authorities ought to work for individuals, and on the native degree there’s some actually basic items that shouldn’t be controversial, proper? Each neighborhood deserves good public colleges. They deserve secure streets, clear sidewalks. Authorities that works, that’s not overly bureaucratic … that’s not placing large particular pursuits forward of on a regular basis individuals.”
Tung, 50, is the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. She grew up in Southern California, in Arcadia, earlier than shifting to the Bay Space, the place she has spent most of her profession as a prosecutor. Her work within the San Francisco D.A.’s workplace focuses on hate crimes.
Tung started her political activism pretty lately, after. On a visit to Washington, she had deliberate to have a good time Hillary Clinton’s historic election as America’s first feminine president. As a substitute, she had an unsightly cry on the Nationwide Portrait Gallery, seated earlier than a rendering of ladies who’ve served on the Supreme Court docket.
A number of weeks later Tung was again within the capital, with bullhorn in hand. At dwelling, she redoubled her political engagement by signing up with certainly one of . Ultimately, although, Tung grew estranged, feeling marginalized not as a result of she was a girl or Asian American however as a result of different Democrats wouldn’t settle for her comparative moderation.
In 2019, she ran unsuccessfully for district lawyer, shedding to Boudin. The following 12 months, the to the Police Fee as a result of, in , she was seen as too pro-police.
Slowly, nevertheless, the political winds shifted, as they typically do. By 2022, it was the management of the San Francisco Democratic Celebration that appeared out of step. Amongst different strikes, the social gathering opposed the college board remembers, which 70% of voters supported, and the ouster of , who was handily turned out of workplace. In 2024, Tung led a centrist slate that took management of the social gathering.
Over lunch at a favourite Indian-Pakistani restaurant, she described her targets between now and the tip of her time period in April 2028. Tung’s demeanor, as one may anticipate of a prosecutor, was no-nonsense. Arms crossed. Forehead creased.
An important factor, Tung prompt, was shifting away from abstractions and indulgences and addressing points that contact voters’ every day lives.
Tung cited a decision the native social gathering handed some years in the past opposing using. A horrible factor, sure. However why, she questioned, had been Democrats in San Francisco devoting time to the matter? “It makes individuals suppose you’re out of contact,” Tung stated. “Why is there one thing about little one labor overseas and never one thing about how we’re treating kids right here?”
Which may be reductive, however the level is nicely taken. If the final election confirmed something, it’s that high-minded rules, like standing up for democratic norms, are than, say, the price of gasoline and groceries.
Democrats, Tung stated forking a serving of rice and lentils, have to “really present individuals our worth, like what we’re doing in the neighborhood. … Are you serving to feed individuals? Are you serving to dress individuals? Are you serving to to attach individuals to providers? Are you serving to individuals reduce via crimson tape at Metropolis Corridor?”
Inevitably, the dialog turned to Trump and fears the nation is .
Sure, Tung stated, social gathering leaders like herself can and may converse out and assist channel Democratic outrage. There’s info and sources to share with people and teams, , who could also be focused by punitive insurance policies. “Can we offer help to people who find themselves impacted? Sure we will,” Tung stated. “Can we offer a discussion board for individuals who wish to converse out? Sure, you are able to do that, too.”
However the actual resistance, Tung stated, must come from elected officers, from members of Congress, and others .
She didn’t say it, however the actuality is that if Democrats actually hope to cease Trump’s excesses and , they’ll need to take again some measure of energy in Washington.
And there’s quite a lot of work to be carried out.
