If you’re like a lot of people right now, you’re watching Trump’s transition unfold and wondering how much damage one administration can really do. The answer: a lot. But here’s the part they don’t want you to believe—
You have real political power.
It’s not just about voting every few years. In a representative democracy, elected officials—from city council to Congress—work for us. And we have the ability to pressure them, support them, or hold them accountable every single day they’re in office.
What Is “Constituent Power”?
Constituent power is the pressure we put on elected officials as people who live in their districts. That pressure might be positive (encouragement and support) or negative (public accountability). Both are effective. Both are necessary.
The most important thing to know is this: your elected officials care about reelection above all else. If you can influence their public reputation or their chances of winning again, you have leverage.
You’re More Powerful Than You Feel
Yes, Trump will take office. Yes, he’ll have an aggressive MAGA agenda. But his power isn’t absolute. His congressional majority is slim. And his policies are deeply unpopular.
That means we still have opportunities to influence what happens—especially at the local and state level.
This is the foundation of the original Indivisible strategy, and it still works—if we use it.
What Your Elected Officials Actually Care About
Here’s a quick cheat sheet for where to focus your efforts:
They care about:
- Verified constituents from their district or state
- Phone calls, in-person meetings, and local events
- Local press, especially negative coverage
- Groups of organized voters in their district
They don’t care about:
- Tweets or Facebook comments from strangers
- Long policy essays
- People outside their jurisdiction
- Generic form letters or petitions
The more effort your action takes, the more weight it carries.
How to Start Using Your Power
1. Identify Your Elected Officials
Go to myreps.datamade.us or commoncause.org to look up:
- Your city councilmember or mayor
- Your state representative and senator
- Your U.S. representative and senators
- Your school board and other local bodies
Make a quick list. These are the people you’ll start tracking and influencing.
2. Pick One to Focus On
Start with one official—ideally one you can influence. That might mean:
- A Democrat who needs encouragement to fight harder
- A Republican in a swing district who wants to avoid bad press
- A local official whose vote can protect your community
Follow their social media. Sign up for their newsletter. Google them regularly. Pay attention to what they say, do, and avoid.
3. Make Contact—Consistently
Pick one issue that matters to you. Make a specific, timely request related to it. Then call, write, or attend an event.
Examples:
- “I’m a constituent from [zip code], and I want Rep. [Name] to publicly oppose any cuts to Medicaid.”
- “As a teacher in this district, I want the school board to reject the new curriculum ban.”
- “I’m urging Senator [Name] to vote no on any nominee aligned with Project 2025.”
Do this once a week. Track your actions and follow up.
What’s Next in the Series
In the next post, we’ll map out the three core strategies that regular people across the country can adopt right now to stop harm and build toward a pro-democracy majority in 2026.
Next Post Drops: December 27, 2024
Title: Choose Your Play: Three Big Paths to Action
Final Word
The biggest lie Trumpism sells is that you’re powerless. That nothing you do matters. That it’s all too broken to fix.
But that’s exactly what they need you to believe to get away with it.
We don’t win by staying quiet. We win by showing up. Start with your reps. Start where you live. Start now.
You don’t need a fancy title, decades of experience, or permission from anyone to start organizing in your own town.
All you need is a few committed people, a sense of purpose, and the willingness to show up.
This post walks you through the real steps to build grassroots political power in your own backyard—even if you’re starting from scratch.