The distinction between an elected politician and a "deep state" figure in this regard would be their identity. You can probably name your Senators, maybe your

The distinction between an elected politician and a "deep state" figure in this regard would be their identity. You can probably name your Senators, maybe your House Member, and probably your local Mayor. You may have even voted for/against them. What about the Deputy Undersecretary of Whatever who is in charge of that topic near and dear to your heart? You didn't elect them. You can't even name them. In fact, you probably don't even know that job and person exist. I was in the Department of Justice and worked for a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in an agency you've never heard of just down the street from DOJ HQ. There were many lifers (worked there pushing 20 years) who I saw and heard say "Eh, I don't like the AG so I don't follow that policy." Fundamentally, it's no different than the CEO of a major company saying "we're going to do X" and various middle managers saying "Nah, that's a bad idea. I'm going to ignore it."