Frontline Dem leader confronts Trump carefully

Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) is pushing two bills that would combat the Trump administration’s funding freezes, while being careful not to isolate Republican voters. 

Davids is working on legislation to ensure full funding for Title X without restrictions as well as a bill to stabilize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. MEP is a program aimed at helping small and mid-sized manufacturers, and it relies heavily on federal funding.

Davids cited President Donald Trump’s Title X funding freezes, which provides federal dollars for organizations like Planned Parenthood that offers family planning services and health care for low-income people, as a motivator for introducing her bill. 

The Kansas Democrat also noted the Commerce Department’s cuts to MEP programs in 10 states, including her home state, as to why she is leading legislation to stabilize the program. 

“It’s outrageous to me that at the same time that Donald Trump says we want more manufacturing in the United States, and then cuts off programming dollars to Kansas manufacturing solutions that helped over 500 manufacturers last year right here in my home district,” Davids told us. 

Vulnerable Democrats have been taking an economy-focused response to Trump’s policies. These members have tailored their messaging to revolve around jobs, cost of living and inflation. 

Davids is a co-chair of the DCCC’s Frontline Program, which is trying to keep and expand the number of swing district Democrats in the House. Davids, who’s also a member of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, is walking a fine line in forcefully pushing back against Trump while being open-minded to more conservative and independent voters. 

“Regardless of if it’s a Democrat or a Republican… I’m going to push back when I need to on policies that I think are going to be bad for Kansas, and I’m going to work with people, regardless of their party, if it’s going to be good for Kansas,” Davids said.

Davids also said she still sees opportunity for bipartisanship in GOP-controlled Washington, but acknowledged that it’s become more difficult under Trump.

“I don’t think it’s impossible, but I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I think it’s going to be easy,” Davids said.