Across the country, many thousands of people spent part of Saturday taking part in the 50-50-1 protests against the Trump Administration. In downtown Lexington, they filled the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Complex square. As for their impact, longtime political journalist Al Cross said if they expect policy changes from the administration, they’ll need to be very patient.
“I don't see these protests having much effect other than to show people who are opposed to the policies of the Trump administration, that their name is Legion, that there are lots of them.”
Cross said without Congress, the White House or a good media environment, people strongly opposed to the administration’s policies need the sort of empowerment they get at rallies. He said the protests could have an impact in next year’s race to replace Senator Mitch McConnell.
“If the Senate race in the Republican primary is about who can be closest to Trump, that could actually energize an anti-Trump candidate on the Democratic side.”
Cross noted a Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky since 1992, when Wendell Ford was reelected. Also, President Trump won Kentucky handily three times.
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