Spotlight Falls on Democrats From Trump-Friendly States – The New York Times
WASHINGTON Nothing would please President Trump more than to wrap up his impeachment trial with support from a handful of Democrats. He might get his wish.
As the Senate nears a vote on Mr. Trumps fate, possibly as early as Friday, attention has focused on the few moderate Republicans who might break ranks by voting to hear from witnesses or perhaps even to convict. But Democrats have their own list of possible defectors who could vote to acquit.
They are focusing on four Democrats from states won by Mr. Trump: Senators Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Doug Jones of Alabama and Gary Peters of Michigan. Should one or more vote to clear the president on either of the charges he faces, it would hand him a coveted talking point during an election year and deliver a blow to Democrats, who lost two votes in the House when Mr. Trump was impeached in December.
Every one of us knows and if our leadership didnt know, we would tell them that this is an individual decision every senator has got to make, Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said in an interview, adding that Democrats closed-door meetings did not include discussions of how members would vote. So I dont know how that plays out, or what the numbers will be.
Mr. Jones suggested Wednesday morning that he was open to acquitting Mr. Trump on one of the charges, obstruction of Congress, though he said the presidents behavior was strengthening the case against him. Mr. Trump is accused of abusing his oath of office and obstructing Congress in connection with his decision to withhold military aid from Ukraine while pressuring that countrys leader to investigate his political rivals, and concealing his conduct from lawmakers.
Im still looking at that very closely, Mr. Jones said, without elaborating. There are some things that trouble me about it. But I will tell you this about the obstruction charge: The more I see the president of the United States attacking witnesses, the stronger that case gets.
Later, after a spate of news articles about him, Mr. Jones backtracked: Dont go putting some damn headline in there, Still open to acquit. Im open to acquit. Im open to convict. I want to hear all the evidence. I want to hear witnesses.
On Thursday night, as the Senate neared the end of its two-day question-and-answer period, Mr. Jones joined with Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema in a query that suggested skepticism of the obstruction charge: Should the House have initiated a formal accommodations process with the Trump White House that might have yielded the documents Democrats sought?
Weve been trying that route for 9 months now, Representative Adam B. Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, replied, adding, What weve seen was there was no desire on the part of the president to reach any accommodation.
Mr. Jones won a special election in 2017 in deeply conservative Alabama after defeating a Republican, Roy S. Moore, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court who was accused of sexually assaulting teenagers when he was in his 30s. Now Mr. Jones faces re-election and a crowded Republican primary race that includes Mr. Moore and Jeff Sessions, Mr. Trumps former attorney general.
His voting record is largely with his party he has sided with Mr. Trump only 37 percent of the time, according to the website FiveThirtyEight and he has been vocal in his demand for witnesses, including in an opinion piece in The Washington Post that raised questions about whether his colleagues would commit to finding the whole truth.
But there will be a backlash against Mr. Jones at the ballot box in November if he votes to convict the president, said Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader.
I know that if Im the senator from Alabama and I vote to throw Donald Trump out of office and off the ballot, Mr. Jennings said, my chances drop from whatever they were to zero.
For his part, Mr. Manchin said on Wednesday that he was frustrated with what he called the hypocrisy of Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, and Mr. McConnell. Both have reversed positions they took in 1999 during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, when Mr. McConnell was for impeachment and Mr. Schumer was against it.
The West Virginia senator has spoken strongly in favor of having witnesses testify. But he has irked fellow Democrats by saying that Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., whose work for a Ukrainian energy company has been an issue in the trial, might be considered a relevant witness. Asked about that on Wednesday, Mr. Schumer grew testy.
We have had total unity on the issue that will be before us, he said. Its not up to Joe Manchin whether to call Hunter Biden.
Mr. Manchin is hard to predict. At the outset of the administration, Mr. Trump courted him and tried to persuade him to become a Republican. But Mr. Manchin stuck with Democrats in voting against repeal of the Affordable Care Act and against Mr. Trumps tax bill. Then he crossed party lines to become the lone Democratic vote in favor of confirming Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
He has been using his Twitter feed to encourage his constituents to call or email a new address his office has created: impeachment@manchin.senate.gov.
Its not as simple as saying, Its a red state, hes a conservative Democratic senator, therefore hell do X or Y, said Mike Plante, a Democratic strategist in West Virginia. This is history. Its not simply politics.
Ms. Sinemas intentions are even more difficult to determine. She issued a statement at the outset of the trial saying she would treat this process with the gravity and impartiality that our oaths demand and has refused to talk to reporters ever since. She has been virtually silent on social media about impeachment.
But after Mr. Trumps defense team wrapped up its opening statements on Tuesday, Ms. Sinema remained in the Senate chamber for more than 10 minutes, deep in conversation with Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee and a close ally of Mr. McConnell. On Wednesday, during the question-and-answer portion of the trial, she asked a question that seemed intended to undercut the presidents defense: Why was the aid to Ukraine withheld in secret?
Kyrsten is in an interesting spot because she ran in her campaign as a moderate but also really stayed away from the partisan politics she always referred to what Arizonans want, making it very local, said Mike Noble, a Republican strategist in Arizona. So shes kind of doing this balancing act.
Then there is Mr. Peters, who has cut a low profile in the Senate and at home, which is one reason he faces a tough race. I am in the undecided category, he told reporters in the Capitol. Im going to listen, give it a fair hearing.
Mr. Trump already promotes the Houses vote to impeach him as bipartisan vindication, citing the two Democrats (Representatives Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who has since become a Republican, and Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota) who voted against. The presidents allies caution that he does not expect a repeat in the Senate, though he would be pleased to see it.
While it would be ideal to have a Democrat or two cross over and oppose impeachment like we saw in the House vote, I dont think it matters in the grand scheme of things, said Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Mr. Trump, adding, Most Americans outside of the Beltway have tuned this entire impeachment circus out of their minds.
Mr. Schumer has said he is not counting votes and is instead encouraging each senator to follow his or her conscience. On Thursday, he brushed aside a question about possible Democratic defections, saying he was solely focused on getting the four Republican votes he needed to force the Senate to subpoena witnesses.
Thats where the focus will be, he said. Our caucus is totally united on that issue, which will determine where we go from there.
Democrats do appear largely unified on the question of whether to have witnesses, and they may get some Republican support. Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, has said he will vote to have witnesses, and Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, has said she is very likely to do so.
Mr. Jennings said at least one thing was nearly certain: Trump is going to claim exoneration no matter what.
Continue reading here:
Spotlight Falls on Democrats From Trump-Friendly States - The New York Times
- Football: Press Democrat offensive player of the year, All-PD teams: Beau David, Ukiah - The Press Democrat - December 21st, 2025 [December 21st, 2025]
- ONBOOKS | OPINION: 2025 the books that mattered - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - December 21st, 2025 [December 21st, 2025]
- Electioneering accusation against high-ranking N.H. Democrat cleared - The Boston Globe - December 21st, 2025 [December 21st, 2025]
- Three-vehicle crash sends truck through windows of local vintage shop - The Press Democrat - December 21st, 2025 [December 21st, 2025]
- Outgoing Democrat who beat GOP lawmaker running for one of Alabamas top offices - AL.com - December 21st, 2025 [December 21st, 2025]
- Moderate Democrat would go tougher on permitting - E&E News by POLITICO - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Scoop: House Democrat "looking into" articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth - Axios - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Mandela Barnes, a former US Senate candidate, enters the Wisconsin governor's race - Wausau Pilot & Review - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- The Democrat who refuses to gerrymander - Politico - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Exclusive: The Tennessee Democrat Hoping to Prove the Blue Wave Is Real - Newsweek - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Hegseth says he stands by 'combat decisions' Admiral has made; Senate Democrat: Hegseth 'shifting the blame' - CNN - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Mandela Barnes, a former US Senate candidate, enters the Wisconsin governor's race - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Aftyn Behn Responds to Trump Accusation She Hates Christianity - Newsweek - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- U.S. House Democrat Robert Garcia Announces Launch of Immigration Enforcement Dashboard to Track Incidents of Possible Abuse and Misconduct During... - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Over 4,000 take part in the 54th Webster Turkey Trot: See the photos - Democrat and Chronicle - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Each year, theres plenty to be thankful for - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Tennessee 7th District 2025 Special Election Poll: Republican Van Epps and Democrat Behn Locked In Tight Race - - Emerson Polling - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Man arrested in North Little Rock killing - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- White House blames Democrat-led states for 'dragging the national average of gas prices,' which remain flat from last Thanksgiving - New York Post - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Texas Democrat a Latin Grammy winner and party recruit caught defacing Trumps Hollywood star - Yahoo - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Aftyn Behn Revelations Deal Blow to Democrat Hopes of Winning Tennessee - Newsweek - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- County to investigate selling Woodland properties - Daily Democrat - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Another Democrat joins the race to represent Utahs new, left-leaning district - Utah News Dispatch - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Ex-president Clinton says this Democrat has what it takes to be president - AL.com - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- This Is The Best Democrat To Go Head-To-Head With Vance In 2028 (And It's Not Newsom): Strategist - Forbes - November 24th, 2025 [November 24th, 2025]
- Why this California Democrat broke with his party to end the government shutdown - Los Angeles Times - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Another notable Democrat likely to announce run for California governor, report says - KTLA - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Democrat Who Split MAGA Over the Epstein Files - The New York Times - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- House Democrat pushing for release of full Epstein files predicts contents will shock the conscience of this country - New York Post - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Michelle Newman will join Bill Cost as the second Democrat on Newark City Council for 2026 - The Newark Advocate - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Here's how you can be a part of the Democrat's 'Giving Tuesday' guide - Tallahassee Democrat - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Democrat Bucks Jeffries in Quest to Denounce Illinois Congressmans Succession Scheme - NOTUS News of the United States - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Why this California Democrat broke with his party to end the government shutdown - Havasu News - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Arkansas football: Razorbacks give Fitzgerald a look - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Skelton: Scandal is a wildcard in governors race - The Press Democrat - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- NY Democrats and Republicans unite to blast NYPA over $7.5M private plane - Democrat and Chronicle - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- N. Carolina ICE operations to expand to states capital - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- California Democrat pushes for extension of healthcare subsidies - Fox News - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Arrows of political fortune aloft once again - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Arkies in the Beltway | Week of November 16, 2025 - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Lessons to be learned on mandates, debts - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Epstein texted with House Democrat during Cohen hearing, documents show - The Washington Post - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Couples tragedy helps drive their goal to hospitals benefit - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Its time to start thinking about those Christmas gifts - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Aviation navigation beacon will be moved from Little Rock - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Vaught, Alma boys basketball team announce themselves with win - River Valley Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- The Protest: Thanksgiving Throwdown II - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Pecos and the Rooftops - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | This rising House Democrat is a voice for the angry middle - The Washington Post - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Why rural Maine may back Democrat Graham Platners populism in the Senate campaign but not his party - The Conversation - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- House Democrat accuses fellow Democrat of attempting to anoint an heir in surprise floor move - CNN - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Louisville Democrat steps away from House leadership to work on adaptive golf project - Kentucky Lantern - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- This Democrat from a red state could help his party reclaim the House - The Washington Post - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Rep. Burchett Votes to End the Democrat Shutdown - House.gov - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Democrat civil war erupts after moderate accuses progressive of undermining 'free and fair elections' - Fox News - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- The lone WA Democrat to support bill to reopen government - The Seattle Times - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Rep. Adelita Grijalva is finally sworn in as the Houses newest Democrat, paving way for Epstein files vote - CNN - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Epstein emails say Trump 'knew about the girls'; new House Democrat pledges file release - Reuters - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Making an amazing race to Baton Rouge - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Chuy Garcia blasted on House floor by fellow Democrat for leaving seat to chief of staff - Chicago Sun-Times - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- The right people are not in the right place: Fmr. House Democrat launches bid for her old seat - NBC News - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- House Democrat: Im disappointed with the Senate over bill to end shutdown - NBC News - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Seven weeks after winning, Arizona Democrat may soon be sworn in to House seat - NPR - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- House Democrat to his Republican colleagues: 'Where the hell have you been?' - CNN - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- A Democrat Pushing 80 Confronts the Young(er) and Restless - The New York Times - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Connecticut Democrat makes history in a big year for the party, without the shouting: Dan Haar - ctinsider.com - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Where the Hell Have You Been? House Democrat Gives Republicans Blunt Greeting After Long Absence - Yahoo - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- House shutdown vote: Johnson working to pass Democrat-opposed bill - Straight Arrow News - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- MichMash: After mayoral win, is Sheffield the second most powerful Democrat in Michigan? - WDET 101.9 FM - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrat Spanberger wins Virginia governor race with message on DOGE, cost of living - NPR - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrat Spanberger wins Virginia governor race over Earle-Sears, NBC News projects - NBC News - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- This Charlotte-area Democrat will try running as Republican to beat Tim Moore - Charlotte Observer - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrat Sherrill wins N.J. election, defeating Ciattarelli, NBC News projects - NBC News - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrat Leads Republican for Governor in State Trump Won 3 TimesPoll - Newsweek - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson on Day 31 of the Democrat Shutdown: Democrats Ensure Millions of American Families Will Go Hungry This Weekend - Congressman Mike... - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Even the Washington Post Editorial Board Agrees, the Democrat Shutdown Must End - Congressman Mike Johnson (.gov) - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- As November 1 Approaches, Democrat Shutdown Threatens Programs That Millions of Americans Rely On - Congressman Mike Johnson (.gov) - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- ICYMI: Congresswoman Hageman Joins House Leadership and RSC to Call for an End to the Democrat Shutdown - Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (.gov) - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Top House Democrat questions whether the Trump Administration's boat strikes will be effective - CNN - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- They were teacher and student in exile. Now this Democrat and Republican face off in Ohio - The Guardian - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]