U.S. News Roundup: Hopecore edition
I’m gonna get this out of the way – Trump and MAGA may not respect the results of the midterm elections, there are significant concerns about what they will do in Iran now that the election is over, and there’s still a lot (a LOT) of work to do to make sure Democrats don’t squander the win.
BUT THIS IS FINALLY THE MOMENT.
The US midterms yesterday were the bluest of waves, with Democrats taking control of both the House and the Senate. I’ll admit that I was worried the US would let down the anti-authoritarian streak started by Brazil, as well as Serbia, but waking up this morning to the steady stream of progressive wins has been absolutely joyous. While there is still SO much work to do, this is a win worth truly celebrating.
Some of the highlights:
Texas: Maybe the most incredible flip – Texas went blue. James Talarico was elected to the Senate, and Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott to become the state’s first Latina governor. Despite intense gerrymandering, and not electing a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, or the US Senate since 1988, Texas voters have definitively made their voices heard.
New Mexico: Democrat Deb Haaland has been elected governor and will become the first Native American woman to govern a US state.
South Carolina: After Lindsey Graham’s death, Trump appointed Graham’s sister to serve the remainder of his term, and campaigned for her in this election. But Democrat Annie Andrews has become the first woman in the state ever elected to the Senate, flipping a seat held by Republicans for almost three decades.
Michigan: Progressive Abdul El-Sayed is the first Muslim to be elected to the US Senate (and told Trump it’s OK if he can’t say his name – he can just call him Senator 😎)
Ohio: Amy Acton won the race for governor, ending 16 years of Republican control, and defeating the biotech entrepreneur endorsed by Trump.
California: Xavier Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, will become the state’s first Latino governor since 1875.
Maine: Troy Jackson defeated incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins after nearly 30 years in the role, an especially significant win considering he entered the race late, replacing Graham Platner, who dropped out after a slew of accusations of S.A. Naysayers said no one would be able to do it and we should disregard these allegations for the sake of electability – and I’m proud that Maine said “hell no.”
Georgia: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms flipped the office of governor, and will become the first Black female governor in US history, and Senator Jon Ossoff was re-elected – both in a state that Trump won in 2024.
North Carolina: Voters elected Roy Cooper and flipped the Senate seat away from Republicans for the first time in 18 years
Montana: Wildland firefighter and union leader Sam Forstag is the first Democrat to represent the state’s Western district in 20 years.
Mississippi: At the moment, the state’s Senate race is within 50 votes. The last Democratic senator from the state retired in 1989. An Independent candidate who refused to drop out to help Democrat Scott Colom is pulling 2% of the vote, and at this point the votes of a few dozen people will make all the difference.
Trump told people to vote as if he were on the ballot – and it looks like they did! Overall, so far 7 states’ Senate seats and 27 House seats have flipped to Democratic control, giving Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
What’s next?
Americans have been organizing – and not just for the last two years. People have been resisting Trump since before he was first elected in 2016, and the movement against his authoritarian regime has ballooned in the years that followed. Organizations like the Working Families Party, Run for Something, Sunrise Movement, Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible, and more have been tenaciously building foundations for a progressive sweep. DSA candidates have already won 75 races across the country, with more still being counted.
While this is a massive victory, it also has more to do with how angry people are at Trump and Republicans than with strong policies Democrats are putting forward. So now that Democrats have control of Congress, progressives are ready to push the party to take decisive action:
“Voters didn’t hand Democrats this majority so they could run the same old playbook,” said Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible. “They want leaders who will take on the corruption driving up the cost of groceries, rent, and health care, hold Trump and his billionaire backers accountable, stand against cruel immigration policies and mass deportations, and refuse to bankroll endless, unjust wars at the expense of working families.
“That means using every oversight tool the House has, banning congressional stock trading, getting big money out of our politics, and using Congress’s power to rein in executive abuses. The people who marched for No Kings and knocked doors this fall aren’t going home. Every member of this new majority owes their gavel to them, and Indivisible will make sure they don’t forget it.”
Yes, there’s much more to do, but these wins are a turning point – so take a deep breath and savor this moment with me.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Alyssa