A cohort of House Democrats is pushing for early preparation to build a case for impeaching former President Donald Trump, aiming for a Day 1 vote if Democrats retake the House in 2027. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) emphasized the need for a concrete, coordinated strategy, including fact-checking and shadow hearings, to lay the groundwork for impeachment.
Building Momentum
Representative Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) stated that if Democrats regain the House, the push for impeachment will be overwhelming. Recent polling from Strength In Numbers/Verasight shows that 55% of U.S. adults support impeaching Trump, while 37% oppose it. This places Trump in a similar position to Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.
That net +18 verdict puts Trump in the neighborhood of the numbers Richard Nixon saw at the peak of the Watergate scandal in August 1974.
Changing Attitudes
Following the 2024 election, Democrats initially avoided discussing impeachment, but attitudes have shifted. Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), who introduced impeachment articles against Trump last year, noted the ridicule he initially faced. However, support for impeachment has grown significantly since then.
When Representative Al Green (D-Texas) forced a vote on impeachment last June, only 78 Democrats supported it, while 128 sided with Republicans. By December, that number had surged to 140 Democrats, with 47 voting "present" and just 23 siding with Republicans.
Strategic Parallels
Ramirez pointed to Republicans' early efforts to impeach former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as a model. She argued that starting impeachment preparations in January 2027 would be too late, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Representative Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) cautioned that impeachment should not overshadow other priorities, such as strengthening American security and improving the lives of American workers. Despite the growing support, some Democrats believe impeachment is unlikely to succeed without a two-thirds majority in the Senate.