Minnesota AG Keith Ellison: “We’re Just a Whisper from Jim Crow”

As President Donald Trump’s polling numbers suggest a potential 2024 re-election, Democratic attorneys general, including Keith Ellison, have been vigilantly preparing for anticipated legal battles. This proactive approach followed Trump’s hiring of Russell Vought, a key author of a strategic document known as Project 2025, which indicates various policy directives.

Ellison and his colleagues strategically divided the document and mobilized their legal teams to be ready for litigation at a moment’s notice. When the Office of Management and Budget announced a freeze on federal funds in alignment with Project 2025, legal action swiftly followed. “They were not hiding the ball,” Ellison remarked during a recent interview.

In the initial months of Trump’s second term, Ellison and other Democratic AGs have initiated over two dozen lawsuits challenging the administration’s actions. These lawsuits target cuts to federal agencies, tariffs, and access to government data, among other contentious issues. Their efforts also include community engagement across blue states to discuss their legal strategies and voter concerns.

Ellison emphasized that the core issues at stake involve the integrity of multi-racial democracy. With a background in Congress, he views the state AGs as essential defenders against federal overreach. The Democratic AGs not only face a Republican-led executive branch but also contend with a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. Recent rulings, such as in 303 Creative v. Elenis, raise alarms for Ellison, who fears a regression towards legalized segregation.

“We are a whisper away from Jim Crow,” he warned. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic, anticipating that even conservative justices will uphold the principles of law against Trump’s executive actions.

Ellison pointed out that the Democratic AGs may find an advantage due to a weakened Department of Justice under Trump, given the agency’s loss of seasoned attorneys through firings and resignations. He noted that many policies enacted through executive action would have been lawful if passed by Congress, indicating a troubling shift where the president governs by “edict” and “proclamation.”

“Our democracy is not perfect,” Ellison reflected, “but you will absolutely miss it when it’s gone, and Trump has given you a glimpse of that.”