Two things happen:
- The party in the country moves sharply to the left, as Clinton’s defeat is attributed to her inability to provide a clear and inspiring alternative to Trumpism. Bernie Sanders becomes the de facto party leader.
- Reactions to President Trump within Congress are mixed. Some Democrats want to emulate Mitch McConnell and engage in obstructionism, while others view him as an ideological tabular rasa and offer to negotiate with him in order to stave off some of the worst aspects of the coming Ryan Revolution (most notably, entitlement cuts).