Mass. Democratic leaders say now is the time to put guardrails in place for a second Trump term

Rep. Seth Moulton, who also won re-election Tuesday after running unopposed, had strong words for his party. He said Democrats are “simply out of touch” with Americans.

“It's not enough to just feel like you're right or tell everyone that Trump is going to be terrible,” Moulton said on WBUR All in all. “We need to listen better. We need to do a better job of engaging with Americans and their real concerns if we ever want to have a chance of coming back.”

Moulton also cited Americans' economic fears as a reason for the Democrats' defeat on election night. Mouton said the Harris campaign did not do enough to isolate the vice president from President Biden's decisions on inflation and the economy.

“This should have been an easy win and yet we were destroyed,” Moulton said. “We need to take a serious look in the mirror.”

Rep. Jim McGovern, fending off a challenge from an independent candidate, said he was “concerned” about the country under Trump.

“I’m worried about our democracy,” McGovern continued Morning edition. “And look, I think the American people all know who he is. We have heard all his words, including his threat to use the military against the enemy within. I mean, I think you have to take him at his word.” .”

While McGovern said he “respects people's right to make their own decisions,” he found it “disappointing” that people voted for Trump “knowing exactly what he said and what he stands for.”

At the state level, Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell told reporters Wednesday that they are moving to protect the rights of Massachusetts residents if Trump enacts measures restricting reproductive health and immigration.

Campbell said her office is in contact with other attorneys general across the country and is considering how to respond to the president-elect's plan for mass deportations.

Trump has said he will use local and federal law enforcement to deport millions of undocumented people living in the country. Studies show that more than 100,000 people live without legal status in Massachusetts.

Campbell was asked if she could stop local law enforcement from participating in a so-called “deportation force.”

“We’ll see,” she replied. “I just want people to know that we are prepared for any scenario. When he was president before, he obviously started with a ban on certain groups of people and certain voters. “We are very aware of this and the AGs then came together to work in partnership to fight this government.”

Massachusetts was one of the states that sued over Trump's travel ban, which barred people from certain Muslim-majority countries when he last took office.

Additionally, Campbell promised that Massachusetts would continue to lead.

“We will certainly be the ones to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, rule of law and democracy, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, environmental protection and much more,” Campbell said.

As attorney general, current Gov. Maura Healey regularly took legal action against the Trump administration.

At a news conference earlier in the day, Healey said she is committed to protecting women's reproductive rights, regardless of what happens at the federal level.

She said the state would continue to ensure that women were protected, recalling the measures she had already taken as governor.

“I signed an executive order to ensure we have full access to needed health care in the state, including abortion care,” Healey said. “As you know, I also stockpiled mifepristone.”

Healey also noted that she will continue to pursue priorities such as lowering housing costs, strengthening the offshore wind industry and strengthening public education in the state.

She spoke about striving to be a governor for all and supporting a peaceful transfer of power.

“In moments like these, I also think it’s important to remind everyone that our great country is bigger than any one person,” Healey said. “We all have a role to play in building the type of community, state and country we want for our children.”

With additional reporting from WBUR's Walter Wuthmann