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RACINE COUNTY The soul-searching for Democrats about why they are out of power at all levels of government is well underway.

Messaging, outreach, party leadership, candidates all are under the microscope as President Donald Trumps tenure begins. But at least outwardly, Racine-area Democrats and activists exuded a feeling of hope about the road ahead, saying opposition to Trump is mobilizing.

People are ready to resist and oppose in ways that I havent seen in the 11 years Ive been in office, said state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine.

Trump became the first Republican to win Wisconsin since 1984, and his coattails helped pave the way for Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnsons re-election and expanded majorities in the state Assembly and Senate.

Democrats are assessing the results of the election and trying to understand why the Trump wave happened, said state Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha.

He said Democrats need better outreach in various areas of the state the party fared especially poorly in rural areas and a more coherent message.

We have to be much more focused on those meat-and-potato issues that affect peoples ability to support their family, said Barca, the Assembly minority leader who represents part of Racine County.

Especially on trade, which Trump made a signature issue, party members did not hear the call from residents upset with unfair deals they felt hurt their communities, Mason added.

Democrats are also quick to note that while losses in November were significant, presidential nominee Hillary Clinton still received 2.8 million more votes than Trump. If Clinton did just slightly better in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania states Trump won by less than 1 percent the conversations would be entirely different.

Still, Democrats lost heavily not just nationally, but on the state and local levels, which hurts the partys ability to groom candidates for higher office.

Two Racine-area women, Alicia Jarrett and Jen Adamski-Torres, are part of a program called Emerge Wisconsin, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for political office.

Adamski-Torres already had the bug to get involved she ran unsuccessfully for Racine City Council last year and said Trumps election only solidified that desire.

It certainly reiterated that we need to get more women involved, myself included, she said.

Added Jarrett: This is a very good wake-up call for the Democratic Party. I still believe that we are the party of the average working person, but I believe that we need to get back to that grassroots organizing and letting people know that we are there for them.

Some key events in the coming months could help shape Democrats future.

The first is the February election for Democratic National Committee chairman, which has attracted several candidates. Whoever wins will play a big role in charting the partys course.

In Wisconsin, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Martha Laning faces a challenger in Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy. That post will be decided at the partys June convention.

Dems also found hope when a federal judge in November blocked the Wisconsin GOPs redistricting maps. The state has appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and it remains to be seen how and if new maps will be created, but Democrats argue the maps have given Republicans an unfair advantage.

Its going to be tough, but there are things to be optimistic about and things that have been taking place that are in our favor, Caledonia activist Randy Bryce said.

On the legislative front, one of the first battles will be over the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have promised a quick repeal of the law and a replacement health care system, but details are uncertain.

Liberals are also watching whether Trump follows through on some of his most inflammatory statements during the campaign, specifically on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and a ban on Muslims.

Right now were not focused on winning votes. Its making sure people are taken care of, and I think thats going to translate in a huge way, Bryce said. People are going to see what Trump and the Republican Party are really about, and that in addition to the outreach were doing now, I see everything completely swinging the other way.

Mason predicted the GOP will overreach with its power and said Republicans will have no one to blame but themselves if things go poorly.

And with the polarizing Trump in command, Mason said opposition is stronger than at any point since the height of the Iraq War.

Thats what patriots do if you love the country, he said. You engage and you resist and you do everything you can to protest and protect the things you care about and fight for the things you believe in. Thats a big part of what being an American is all about. So Im actually quite encouraged with the response from our side to the Trump presidency.

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Where do Democrats go from here? - Journal Times