Republicans will soon control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Their trifecta win — especially their 53-seat majority in the Senate — leaves Washington Democrats with few options to counter Republican authority.

But Democratic state attorneys general can and will fill the federal void. Democratic attorneys general are poised to combat the incoming administration’s overreach and pick up where the current administration’s affirmative agenda will leave off — especially with respect to protecting vulnerable communities.

Through his attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump will oversee thousands of law enforcement professionals and civil servants, and dozens of federal agencies and offices across the Department of Justice, including law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Moreover, civil agencies like the Civil Rights Division, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and the Office of Justice Programs, all fall under the Trump Justice Department’s purview.

Trump will also nominate 94 U.S. attorneys — each with vast civil and criminal authority in their individual districts. Indeed, the impact of the recent election on our civil and criminal........

© The Hill