Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will prep Democrats on how to engage against Republicans over Trump's Supreme Court pick. | Getty Democrats hold lessons on how to talk to real people

Senate Democrats geared up for battle with President Donald Trump by preparing to talk to people who voted for him — and by hearing from one of his arch-nemeses.

Gathering in Sheperdstown, West Virginia, Democrats were scheduled to hear Thursday from liberal political operative David Brock, Center for American Progress CEO Neera Tanden and Priorities USA CEO Guy Cecil in a session called “Hold Trump Accountable.” Earlier in the day, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) moderated a “discussion with Trump voters," according to a draft schedule obtained by POLITICO.


Manchin and nine other Senate Democrats are up for reelection next year in states that Trump won. Much of the event appears geared at figuring out how to turn people who supported Trump into Democratic voters in 2018.

Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D), along with Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), held a session on “speaking to those who feel invisible in rural America," according to the schedule. Other sessions were along similar lines: “Listening to those who feel unheard” and “Rising America — They feel unheard too.”

On Thursday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will discuss political tactics for the midterm election and Democrats will strategize on how to define themselves and Trump. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) will talk about “Triangulating Trump,” emphasizing that they can go around Republicans by trying to work with Trump on infrastructure, outsourcing and trade.

Finally, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will prep Democrats on how to engage against Republicans over Trump's Supreme Court pick, which is expected to come next week.

On Wednesday evening, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led a wine and cheese reception, then Democrats went to a presentation about Harper’s Ferry called “September Suspense: Lincoln’s Union in Peril.”

Democrats did not allow reporters to attend.