Democratic Party officials have been united in their public and vigorous support of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) after he was forcibly removed and handcuffed at a news conference for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday.
Since then, Democrat after Democrat has offered their backing to Padilla, calling the incident a grave miscarriage of justice and signaling an effort to take on President Trump and his administration.
But behind the scenes, a number of Democrats worry the incident won’t play well for the party in the long run, especially since the chatter appeared to fall along party lines in the aftermath of Padilla’s removal.
In interviews Friday, these Democrats didn’t want to speak on the record given that officials in their party are publicly unanimous in backing Padilla.
But these sources say they fear the Padilla incident could have negative ramifications as the party tries to find its way back from their devastating loss in November.
“Here’s the thing: Did it change anyone’s minds or did it just rev up the base?” said one Democratic strategist worried the incident could backfire on their party.
“This is what we don’t understand. We think these moments will cause outrage, but they miss the point. It’s not swaying anyone. It just makes us look petty.”
Some Democrats said the moment was political theater that would just become another thing for red and blue America to disagree over.
“I’m not sure it stands out, especially as more Democrats begin to take a stand,” a second party strategist said. “Let’s put it this way, it’s a zero-sum game.”
The mild-mannered Padilla remained the talk of political circles Friday, even as news about the incident disappeared from cable television airwaves amid Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks.
Even with that conflict crowding the Padilla controversy out of the spotlight, Democrats were seeking to turn the moment into a talking point against President Trump — and a fundraising opportunity to boot.
Padilla himself was fundraising off the incident and doing interviews.
“If that’s what they do to a United States senator with a question, imagine what they do to farm workers, day laborers, cooks, and the other nonviolent immigrants they are targeting in California and across the country,” a fundraising note from Padilla said.
In his own fundraising appeal, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called Padilla “one of the most decent people.”
And the Democratic National Committee said the incident “isn’t normal and are steps toward authoritarianism,” a sentiment other Democrats echoed in statements.
Some Democrats said their party should go even further.
Democratic strategist Christy Setzer said she hoped Padilla and Democrats could “successfully leverage this moment … but I’m skeptical.”
“Trump’s thugs chose Padilla to rough up for a reason: to show they’ll physically take on anyone who dares to question them, including and especially a Hispanic man with power,” Setzer said. “The response from congressional Democrats should be absolutely apoplectic
“They should shut down the Senate. Even the meekest response — calling for DHS to fire the men who handcuffed Padilla — would be welcome,” Setzer added.
The incident surrounding Padilla comes at a time when Democrats are anxious to stand up to Trump and the GOP. While there was some thought early in the Trump administration to try to work alongside Republicans, some Democrats have concluded that it’s the wrong approach.
Instead, they’re leaning into a fighting stance against the president.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) dared Trump to arrest him, after the two men got into a back-and-forth over the immigration raids in Los Angeles and the protests and at times violent disorder that followed.
“Just get it over with,” Newsom said. “Arrest me.”
Earlier this year, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) took a tough stance while participating in a 25-hour filibuster on the floor of the upper chamber.
And in April, Sen. Chris Van Holden (D-Md.) traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, one of his constituents who was deported to a prison in that country.
Democrats said they expected the tougher stance to continue in the months ahead.
“Democrats are at a moment where the base needs to see them show their willingness to fight,” said Democratic strategist Joel Payne, who predicted that more Democrats would follow Padilla and Newsom in standing up to Trump.
“We need to demonstrate to our voters that we’re not just going to talk the tack but we’re going to walk the walk.”