Democrats dream of a drama-free fall

Democrats returned to Washington after an unexpectedly upbeat summer with a clear objective: Don’t screw it up. Seeing their majority as back in play less than two months before the midterms, members of the famously fractious House Democratic caucus are now urging each other to stay unified and ignore distractions in their final month of legislating before the election. Buoyed by unexpected wins in Alaska and elsewhere, they’re intent on avoiding any unforced errors that could break their recent hotter streak. Across the Capitol, Senate Democrats are similarly cautious, concentrating on judicial nominees and same-sex marriage legislation that has little political downside for the party in power. Taken together, the two slim Democratic majorities are living by a new credo of less is more after a breakneck two years of legislating.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said that his caucus’ fraught debate over whether to vote on public safety bills this month, for instance, remained a “very important” question, but one that might not be politically wise at the moment.“It might not make sense for us to poke the bear. Let’s win the majority back and then do what we can do then,” the senior Black Caucus member said. “I think we are working on reducing the likelihood of tumult.” Other Democrats, though, argue it’s still critical to show voters the party is supporting law enforcement after years of GOP attacks. “Democrats need to demonstrate we can be pro-law enforcement while being against bad cops, and so I’d like to see us vote on this package,” moderate Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) said. Such tension is a reminder that there’s zero guarantee of a drama-free September. With the House slated for just eight more days in session this month, lawmakers face a high-stakes to-do list that includes averting a government shutdown, delivering military aid to Ukraine and resolving a contentious bicameral dispute over Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) energy permitting push.