Those Election Results

Each morning when I get up, my husband’s first question is: any news? (That comes right after his opening observation that “growing old is not for sissies.”) Yesterday, boy was there news! And for the first time in what seems like forever, that news was ALL good.

As usual, Heather Cox Richardson said it best:

Tonight the results came in. American voters have spoken.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the governorship of Virginia by 15 points, becoming Virginia’s first female governor. Every single county in Virginia moved toward the Democrats, who appear to have picked up at least 12 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the governorship of New Jersey by more than ten points (the vote counts are still coming in as I write this).

Pennsylvania voted to retain three state supreme court justices, preserving a 5–2 liberal majority on the court. Democrats in Georgia flipped two statewide seats for public service commissioners by double digits. Mississippi broke the Republican supermajority in the state senate.

Maine voters rejected an attempt to restrict mail-in voting; Colorado voters chose to raise taxes on households with incomes over $300,000 to pay for meals for public school students.

California voters approved Proposition 50 by a margin of about 2 to 1, making it hard for Trump to maintain the vote was illegitimate.

And in New York City, voters elected Zohran Mamdani mayor.

Tonight, legal scholar John Pfaff wrote: “Every race. It’s basically been every race. Governors. Mayors. Long-held [Republican] dog-catchers. School boards. Water boards. Flipped a dungeon master in a rural Iowa D&D club. State senators. State reps. A janitor in Duluth. State justices. Three [Republican] Uber drivers. Just everything.”

Those of us who care deeply about this country–whose patriotism is rooted in allegiance to the philosophy of the Declaration and fidelity to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, those of us who work to achieve a society reflective of what I’ve called “the American Idea”– turned out in force.

If yesterday’s elections proved anything, they proved that real Americans can do this. We outnumber the haters–the racists, anti-Semites, homophobes and misogynists who are the face (and base) of today’s Republican Party. More importantly, yesterday demonstrated that We the real American People will come out to defend the real America.

Obviously, gratifying as Tuesday’s election turnout and results were, now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to return this country to the path laid out by its founders–both the original founders and those responsible for the post-Civil War “second founding“–a nation committed to both individual liberty and civic equality.

The enormous turnout for No Kings Day was an indication that Americans were up to the task; yesterday’s blowout victories confirmed it. We aren’t out of the woods by any means, but we are on the way.

There’s an old TV ad that has one person asking another “How do you spell relief?” The answer isn’t “rolaids,” as in the ad. It’s the growing, impressive evidence that resistance is–forgive the Borg reference– anything but futile.

24 Comments

  1. About a decade ago, I put a sticker on my water bottle that says “The Blue Wave is Coming.” It is still there, looking a bit the worse for wear, but reminding me that I have been sustaining hope for a long time. It’s not a sprint, but a marathon and it is far from over. I am so glad that my hope is being vindicated!

  2. “Obviously, gratifying as Tuesday’s election turnout and results were, now is not the time to rest on our laurels.”

    This is the most important statement regarding the Blue Wave of November 4, 2025; voters proved they can UNITE, a lesson the Blue Party needs to relearn and adhere to. President Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope” was the hope that both political parties would come to the bargaining tables and work together to resolve our problems and strengthen the nation. I believe his timing to come out front for our candidates was carefully planned and seeing him in action again rekindled my hope for a united future for America and all Americans.

    Today’s “yesterday” was the day after election day and the scheduled SCOTUS hearing on Trump’s power over his economic killing tariffs; a deliberately planned date believing their MAGA party would run away with all of the prizes? So, Gorsuch and Barrett are questioning Trump’s powers over those tariffs which they bestowed on him with his full immunity. They should be looking for any legality allowing that power under all Rule of Law and the Constitution. SCOTUS is in effect investigating itself; what possible outcome can we expect but the continuing Trump power over tariffs if for no reason but retaliation for the November 4, 2025 Blue Wave election results?

    “Obviously, gratifying as Tuesday’s election turnout and results were, now is not the time to rest on our laurels.”

  3. Its more than obvious that the Trump votes stayed home. The biggest problem we face as a nation now started with the congress under Obama inflicting a $10 trillion debt that we continue to pay on.
    Mamdami victory speech was not warm but showed concern to van Jones and others as a missed opportunity.
    The rich Dems in New York are planning to leeve? Lets hope thats hype.
    Overall the strategy played out over the last year even with No kings. But Mamdami will be the Repubs main focus.
    It takes good governance, congrats and prayers to those who got voted in.
    My prayers are for Hochel as New Yorks governor

  4. My wife and I agreed that yesterday’s news was the first time in a painfully long time that we were happy to be listening to news programs.
    I started thinking that maybe even my letters to Indiana elected officials might actually be read or at least have a little effect, although that may just still be silly.
    As a result of what happened in Mississippi, I am also actually thinking that opposition candidates might have a snow balls chance in Indiana.

  5. John S, The takeaway from yesterday‘s election was not that Trump voter stayed home, but that former Trump voters realized that all those wild, crazy, stupid things Democrats were saying the Republicans were going to do, are actually being done and they don’t like it.

  6. I see this election as a harbinger of what can be from sustained efforts to do what is right for the country. The media continues to flack the MAGA shit show because it indeed bleeds.

    So, let’s shake off the rose petals and begin TODAY to finish the job next November. Trump is doing HIS usual shit show with threats and fear mongering, but that act is getting very old – just like he is and his MAGA idiots. That said, we on the side of the Constitution must continue to thwart anti-voting initiatives, get on a bus and get poor and rural voters to register and vote. As I see it, the only way to defeat the oligarch-fueled politics in this country is for the masses of people/voters to cement these greedy bastards back into their crypts of fascism.

  7. Here’s hoping that the momentum will continue through the mid-terms and all the way to 2028.
    As the Dems continue their naval-gazing to figure out how to energize their base and bring in new and younger voters and get them to the polls, it seems like it is a good time for the old guard to step out of the way and allow some younger folks with new ideas to enter leadership.

  8. I agree, James and Vern. TPUSA had a hold on the young Republicans, but they are imploding after Charlie’s death. It actually started while Charlie was still alive when he ordered an audit and refused an infusion of cash from Bibi Netanyahu. Sometimes, when the spotlight shines upon an organization, it reveals all the cockroaches.

    The good news is MAGA is continuing to splinter, which was expected, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon after Trump was elected. The oligarchy is a little nervous about 2026 right now, and rightfully so. Will all the millionaires living in New York City move to Florida to avoid taxation? I doubt it. This will be a microcosm to study as Zohran implements his agenda.

    On the flipside, the Democratic Party worked with the corrupt Cuomo to defeat Mamdani in one of their biggest markets. Let that sink in. They are such a relic, it’s painful to watch. Sorry, JoAnn, but the young people couldn’t care less about Obama. He makes great speeches, but when he had the power to act, he failed miserably. He’s a sellout.

    If you haven’t listened to Trump’s “concession speech” to the Senate after the blue wave, take some time to listen to all the projections. It’s classic. He says the analysts said, “Trump wasn’t on the ballot this election.” LOL

    Trump is delusional, and since he blames everyone and everything for his failures, there will be no changes coming from him. In fact, he will double down on ignorance.

    p.s. Trump allocated $500 billion for AI to build out data centers. The nuke center in Indiana is a result of that buildout. However, top tech analysts are saying AI has failed to achieve what was expected. The pilot programs in corporations are 85-95% bust. Nobody has been able to generate any revenue. Since they essentially own a significant stake in Trump, expect a serious bailout as the Bubble bursts.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iPMjZNYC8A&themeRefresh=1)

  9. commondreams.org
    opinion:why the left should not join trump or brics.
    theres some side slants on why trump targeted his tariffs on who/
    anyone hearof the tech bros or billionaire donating to ant food banks?.
    course not,trump warned them not to.

  11. A blue wave is building. This election day’s message was an important signal, but it must continue to build over the next year, and sly politician DJT knows what an overwhelmingly large blue wave would mean next year for his free rein to enrich his business.

    The protests have to continue to grow even though many of the most stalwart supporters will age out and die. Lose the old, backfill with the young is the spacetime reality of life. There is evidence that this is also taking place.

    We have to keep letting face-to-face discussion displace social and entertainment media as our primary modus for teaching, learning, and debating.

    We have shown now that we can.

  12. The news was wonderful, all around, but now, we will see just how low Trump can go in his certain to be sick response to the votes. Sorry to throw water on the celebration, but we can not relax.

  14. AND BTW … Pelosi meticulously ensured succession before publicly announcing yesterday.

  17. John, just an FYI deficits under Obama were $5.1 trillion for his first four years. For his first four, Orange Jesus gave is $7.8 trillion, before COVID.

  19. We will need more citizen actions between now and next year. Boycott at the end of November, more “No Kings” rallies across the country, and more videos of ICE at work on the streets. We have to do the work to prevent a back slide ourselves.

    Mamdani’s win gives me hope for the Democrats. Both of New York’s Senators BA ked Cuomo. That’s NOT leadership.

  20. It is highly probable that the major MAGAte/Rump reaction to the Dem sweep of the elections will be to redouble efforts to rig the 2026 midterm elections… OR TO PREVENT THEM ENTIRELY. They have several options, one being to deliberately foster (or fabricate) some kind of opposition action– mass protests, for example– in which someone throws a beer bottle at the ICE thugs or Nat’l Guard soldiers. Then you-know-who declares a national emergency, and suspends elections. If the elections ARE held, we can expect furious voter suppression tactics, with no voting by mail, short voting hours, fed gov’t cops and camo-wearing MAGAtes at polling places, and all manner of shenanigans in ballot collecting and counting. All this after months of high-spending propaganda on cable TV (esp. Faux News), digital media, billboards, touring shit shows, and more. If I am right, it’s 50/50 at best on the chance of having the midterms on time in something like fair circumstances. THE PUPPETMASTERS BEHIND TRUMP HAVE NO INTENTION OF GIVING UP POWER. It may come down to a question of how many fellow citizens are they willing to kill to stay in power?

  21. It was refreshing to see that two qualified democratic women won the governor’s office of New Jersey and Virginia for the first time against republican candidates. If those women were bi-racial or brown or black would that still have been the result?
    So, it was shown in those areas of the country that Maga misogyny doesn’t prevail at this time.

  22. While “Trump and Republican Party” was really on the ballot everywhere and soundly rejected, I think more importantly the Candidates themselves were exemplary and very talented, qualified individuals that spoke with clarity, and sincerity. In most cases, people voted for these candidates not just against the incumbent Republicans or Republican candidates. If we look at the Demographics, Young people showed up, Women showed up, Latinos, Blacks showed up in significant margins. If Democrats can get out the vote, they will win. The Democrats have to give them a reason, a vision of the future. Hope is back. If Democrats in blue and even red states, campaign as these winning candidates did, with less expensive social media, door to door, making their case and voices heard, they can over come the excessive billionaire tech money and Main Street media blitz. It starts with great candidates.

  24. Item 1 – Press on towards ’26. If we can sustain the enthusiasm and turnout, even some Republican gerrymandered districts might not be safe for them. While we counter Republican gerrymandering (which I have supported since Tom Delay did the off-year redistricting in Texas in 2003), we might consider that it is better to increase minority voting than to gerrymander guaranteed seats (majority-minority districts). I do understand that it may be unpopular with some, but it would aid in creating more representative legislative bodies.

    Item 2 – We must strategize for the potential Supreme Court decision that any state can redistrict any way they want without regard to race. Not sure what to do about this, but wiser minds might.

    Item 3 – Prepare our own Project 2029 and be ready to go on day one, if the Democrats retake power. Also, have the legal cases ready to overturn the mess that the “our own original idea of what the Constitution should have said” court has created, once we fix the Supremes.

    Finally, remember how this victory happened – part being fed up with Trump, but a large part was listening to the citizens and responding the the issues that mean most to them – affordability, not culture wars.

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