OUT in the savannah of American politics, the Democratic Party lacks big beasts. Republicans control the White House and Congress and, in the country at large, hold 33 governors’ mansions and almost as many state legislatures. Not since the 1920s have Democrats carried so little clout at the state and federal level. Just one Democratic pack moves with the swagger born of electoral success: big-city mayors. Democrats head 17 of the 20 largest cities, from New York to inland centres like Denver, a fast-growing, diverse spot at the foot of the Rockies, once known for cows, Coors beer and hydrocarbons, now abuzz with tech start-ups and millennials seeking jobs in finance and health care.
In a backhanded tribute to their power, President Donald Trump has prepared a trap for Democratic municipal leaders. It is built around immigration enforcement, and the reluctance of many urban leaders to work too closely with federal immigration authorities—notably the black-clad agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of Mr Trump’s first executive orders threatens to deny federal funds to so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions”, meaning local governments deemed to be...Continue reading
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