This 'major force' of resistance remains untested as Trump spirals 'out of control'

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures, as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

President Donald Trump's first administration suffered a major setback when, in the 2018 midterms, Democrats retook the U.S. House of Representatives with a net gain of 40 seats — and Democratic strategists are hoping that something similar will happen in 2026's midterms. If that occurs, Republicans will still control the House for a little over 15 more months. And in the meantime, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and his allies are unwavering in their devotion to Trump.

In article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on September 30, however, political scholar Steven Strauss argues that Democrats have an "untested" source of anti-Trump opposition: state governments that can launch "investigations" of MAGA Republicans.

"Can anything stop the Trump Administration from breaking the institutions of our federal government?," Strauss writes. "'No' seems to be the answer. Donald Trump holds all the cards, we are told, and all of his cards appear to be Trump cards. And wherever we look, the other branches of government are rolling over to make way for this president. There is, however, a major force in American politics, untested so far in this administration, with the power and authority to hold our reckless commander in chief accountable. States have the right — and the obligation — to investigate the Trump Administration. And they don't have to stop there."

Strauss continues, "They can propose constitutional amendments, federal legislation, and state legislation. All this and more, they ought to do because Trump's second term is spiraling out of control. Scandals threaten American health and democracy on practically a daily basis: Trump canceling vital cancer and vaccine research, promoting bogus claims that Tylenol causes autism, engaging in blatant cronyism and corruption, and weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to indict a former FBI director as political retaliation."

Strauss emphasizes that because Democrats "lack the formal power needed to take action" at the national level, "it falls upon the states to lead the resistance."

"Over 20 states have Democratic governors, and in over ten states, the governor is a Democrat — and Democrats also control the legislature," Strauss explains. "State investigations offer powerful tools for accountability. Our constitutional system allows states broad investigative authority to surface facts, compel testimony, and recommend constitutional amendments and legislation. Crucially, these investigations can perhaps provide evidence for state criminal prosecutions that Trump cannot pardon because presidential pardons only cover federal crimes."

Strauss adds, "Even if Trump were to pardon all his cronies for federal offenses, they may remain vulnerable to state prosecution."

Steven Strauss' full article for The Bulwark is available at this link.

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