Democrats are bracing for the unknown as they barrel toward the formal start of the Trump era.

Friday marks the opening of the first unified GOP government in roughly a decade. It will also be the first time that almost two-dozen Democratic senators — about half the caucus — elected during President Obama's tenure will serve under a Republican president.

The coming strategy for Democratic lawmakers boils down to a dual-pronged approach: Offering Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE an olive branch on potential areas where they could work together, while trying to rally public support when they think the president-elect steps over the line.

“When they hear the outcry from the public … they get a little nervous and sometimes back off,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt Schumer lashes out at Trump over 'blue states' remark: 'What a disgrace' MORE (D-N.Y.) said of the incoming Trump team on a Tuesday conference call.

Democrats’ pledge to stand up to Trump was on full display Tuesday as they blasted his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), and focused pointed questions on Education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos at her evening confirmation hearing.

ADVERTISEMENT

They’re also gearing up for a battle over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenWarren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon No new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead MORE (D-Mass.) saying firing Director Richard Cordray would be akin to Trump “kissing the boots” of payday lenders and big banks.

Democrats — in a strategy laid out by Schumer during his first speech as minority leader — are planning to try to leverage their limited power to keep Trump accountable to the populist promises he made during his campaign.

Republicans and the Trump administration will need the support of at least eight Democratic senators to get their ambitious legislative agenda through Congress.

But those lawmakers are heading into Friday’s inauguration deeply uncertain of what to expect from the incoming administration and how much influence they might have over the president elect.

Sen. Chris Murphy Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocratic senator calls for 'more flexible' medical supply chain to counter pandemics The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE (D-Conn.) laughed when asked how willing he thinks Trump will be to work with Democrats.

"There's no sign he's willing to work with Democrats right now. I mean his conduct has been juvenile since the election," he told The Hill.

While Murphy said he’s open to working with Trump on issues such as infrastructure, "the hope I had after the election has very quickly been dashed."

Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure MORE (D-Va.) separately said he would "look for opportunities" to work with Trump.

But the former vice presidential candidate hedged, noting he couldn't predict what the administration would prioritize "out of the gate" and pointing to the GOP push to repeal ObamaCare as a "catastrophe."

Muddying the water for Democrats are Trump’s Cabinet picks, many of whom have publicly differed from Trump on key policy proposals.

Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.) said his sit-downs with Trump’s nominees have left him “puzzled” about what to expect from the incoming administration.

“I don’t know. We just don’t know,” he said when asked if Trump’s nominees are out of line with the president-elect.

“This man reinvented campaign politics ... and now he’s sending his team in and there are so many unanswered questions.”

Sen. Chris Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Conservative activist Lauren Witzke wins GOP Senate primary in Delaware MORE (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, echoed Durbin after a meeting with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Nations.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coons said it’s “significant” that Trump’s nominees are breaking with him on national security issues, including Russia and torture, but demurred on whether he thinks they might change Trump’s positions.

“That’s really up to the president, isn’t it?” he said when asked if he thinks Trump will listen to his Cabinet.

Murphy added that while “some of these nominees don’t seem to be a part of the same administration ... they’re going to be shackled to his policy once he’s sworn in.”

Republicans are pressing Democrats to work with the president-elect, hoping to mitigate the looming fight over Trump's Cabinet nominees.

“They should not delay for just delay's sake, which unfortunately some have threatened to do," Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn John CornynAirline job cuts loom in battleground states Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll MORE (R-Texas) said from the Senate floor. "[Delaying] won't help this new administration, won't make America a safer place, and it will make us more vulnerable.”

Vice President-elect Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceControversial CDC guidelines were written by HHS officials, not scientists: report Former DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Scott Walker helping to prep Pence for debate against Harris: report MORE, a former lawmaker with deep ties to Capitol Hill, has been meeting with Democrats to build bridges, including with Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyGAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure MORE (Pa.), Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (N.D.), Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenators offer disaster tax relief bill Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it MORE (Calif.) and Bill Nelson Clarence (Bill) William NelsonDemocrats sound alarm on possible election chaos Trump, facing trouble in Florida, goes all in NASA names DC headquarters after agency's first Black female engineer Mary W. Jackson MORE (Fla.) on Tuesday.

Others, ranging from conservative Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (D-W.Va.) to Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.), have indicated that they won't say "no" to a proposal just because it's supported by Trump.

Some even see areas of common ground with the incoming administration.

Sen. Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell BrownEmboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Ohio), for example, said he's with the Trump team "on trade issues, infrastructure if they're genuine."

"[But] I have trouble with a lot of their nominees who want to undo the mission ... that they were hired for," he added.