Democratic lawmakers said the Republican campaign victories on Tuesday made clear that they can’t let their intraparty arguments continue to fester and they need to get things done, even if moderates and progressives aren’t entirely happy with having to compromise on key issues.

“Had we acted in early October I think we could have had a much better result in Virginia and maybe elsewhere, too, and I think the lesson from that is the public gave us a majority at a very critical time in our country and they want us to use it,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“I’m thinking about getting the job done and I think our delay in producing results … our delay on these two bills, I think that was painful,” he said. “I hope the lesson my colleagues and I learn and put into practice is we have a majority and let’s act on it.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) appeared to agree with that analysis when asked Thursday to react to the Republican victories in Virginia, New Jersey and his home state.

“We got to get some real things done. That’s what people want. Reduce their costs, make their lives better,” he said as he was leaving the Capitol after a week of intense negotiations over the reconciliation proposal.