Lawmakers from both parties are finding that personal friendships across the aisle may be America’s best hope for breaking through congressional gridlock and partisan warfare.
At a Glance
- 71% of Americans disapprove of Congress, with 60% citing partisan bickering as a major issue
- The Problem Solvers Caucus, with 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats, works to restore deliberative democracy
- Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MN) has demonstrated bipartisan success by collaborating with Republican Chip Roy
- Current political party structures and Supreme Court jurisprudence may inadvertently encourage polarization
- Experts suggest focusing on social ties and associational qualities of parties to improve democratic responsiveness
America’s Partisan Crisis
America’s government is facing a crisis of functionality. With congressional approval ratings hovering near historic lows and partisan gridlock preventing action on even widely supported measures, many Americans have lost faith in their elected officials’ ability to work together.
The problem has deep structural roots in our political systems and has been exacerbated by court decisions that empower extreme ideological elements within parties. The deregulation of party fundraising, combined with primary systems that reward partisan purity, has created a political environment where cooperation is often punished rather than praised.
Legal scholars note that the Supreme Court’s approach to political parties has been based on a theory of “responsible party government” – the idea that voters can hold parties accountable through competitive elections between ideologically distinct options. However, this theory breaks down when parties become disconnected from voters and responsive primarily to donors and activists. This disconnect has created the paradoxical situation where Congress remains deeply unpopular, yet incumbent reelection rates remain extraordinarily high.
The Problem Solvers Approach
Despite these structural challenges, individual lawmakers are finding ways to bridge the partisan divide. The Problem Solvers Caucus represents one of the most organized efforts to restore bipartisanship to Congress. This group, evenly split between 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats, requires 75% agreement from its members before endorsing legislation – ensuring that proposals have genuine support from both parties. Congressman Dean Phillips, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota, has become one of the caucus’s strongest advocates.
Phillips comes from a “purple district” with a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and he has built his approach around listening to constituents across the political spectrum. This approach has proven effective not just in his district but in Congress itself. Phillips and Republican Congressman Chip Roy successfully collaborated on the PPP Flexibility Act during the pandemic, demonstrating that cross-party teamwork can deliver meaningful results even in a divided Congress.
Building Personal Connections
The foundation for bipartisan cooperation begins with simple human connections. Lawmakers who form genuine friendships across party lines discover they have much more in common than political differences might suggest. These personal relationships create a foundation of trust that can withstand the inevitable policy disagreements. Family backgrounds, shared hobbies, military service, and even simply breaking bread together provide opportunities for lawmakers to see each other as fellow Americans rather than partisan opponents.
Phillips has embraced this approach through his “everyone’s invited” policy, creating spaces for dialogue and understanding among constituents with diverse viewpoints. This practice transfers to his work in Congress, where he actively seeks opportunities to engage with Republican colleagues. Legal scholars support this approach, suggesting that political parties should place greater emphasis on their associational qualities – the social networks and relationships that facilitate political mobilization and information exchange. By prioritizing these human connections, lawmakers can build coalitions capable of transcending party lines on issues of shared concern.
A Path Forward
The path to a more functional government will require both personal efforts by individual lawmakers and structural reforms to our political system. Legal experts have proposed extending existing frameworks like Anderson-Burdick to better assess burdens on political parties’ associational rights, promoting broader political participation. Rather than concentrating power in party elites focused on branding, reforms could encourage the development of robust partisan networks that facilitate genuine communication between voters and elected officials.
In the meantime, the example set by members of the Problem Solvers Caucus offers hope that determined individuals can make a difference even within the current system. By focusing on relationships first and policy second, these lawmakers are demonstrating that bipartisanship remains possible even in today’s polarized environment. For voters concerned about congressional dysfunction, supporting representatives who prioritize cooperation over conflict may be the most effective path toward restoring functionality to America’s government.
