"So how do Democrats break through?
"Nick Rathod, executive director of the State Innovation Exchange and an Obama White House veteran, pointed to the 'Fight for $15,' a union-backed grass-roots push to raise the minimum wage, as an example of how the party can pick up steam despite its deficit in Washington.
"'Congress is in perpetual gridlock, Trump is doing whatever, and while I don't recommend taking your eye off the ball federally, where you can actually make change and actually make a difference is at the local level,' he said. 'That's where I think people should be organizing and working.'"