It is ironic that Donald Trump whose eminence began uttering “You’re fired!” on “The Apprentice” received an identical verdict in the midterm elections (as in the 2020 Presidential Election). A replacement Prime Minister would lead our government if we enjoyed a parliamentary democracy.
Americans must understand political dynamics instead of judge.
Donald Trump, who promulgated birther claims (and debased the Central Park Five, ultimately exonerated), confirmed that biracial President Barack Obama was hardly an anomaly. International trends towards increasing inclusivity and tolerance receive confirmation:
As I write — on the morning after the elections — suggestion exists that Mississippi might have its first African American Senator since Reconstruction. Prediction that Mississippi’s demographic composition could make it into a purple state conceivably occurred sooner rather than later.
Georgia elected the nation’s first female African American Governor. Florida elected the nation’s first Republican African American Governor. Nevada — hardly an African American stronghold — elected an African American Governor. Wisconsin — which was home to Senator Joseph McCarthy and enthusiastically supported Alabama Governor George Wallace’s Presidential aspirations — elected its first African American Governor; Wisconsin being a state that was sympathetic to anti-Obama backlash, having had no impetus to evolve during the Civil Rights Movement, given its infinitesimal African American population.
There are four incoming African American Governors, compared with three previously elected since Reconstruction: Douglas Wilder in Virginia, Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, and Wes Moore in Maryland. (New York Lieutenant Governor David Paterson became Governor following Eliot Spitzer’s resignation in disgrace).
Deb Haaland will be the first female Native American Governor, in New Mexico. Peggy Flanagan will be the first female Native American Senator, from Minnesota — alongside Mary Peltola should she prevail in Alaska.
South Carolina will send a Democrat to the United States Senate for the first time since Fritz Hollings retired in 2005. Texas will send a Democrat to the United States Senate for the first time since Lloyd Bentsen retired in 1993.
Texas will have its first Hispanic Governor. California will have its first Hispanic Governor since Romualdo Pacheco in 1875.
New Hampshire will have the first openly gay United States Senator. Michigan will have the first Muslim United States Senator.
The American people spoke resolutely: Anyone entertaining the efficacy of division and hate in America shall discover that racism, antisemitism, anti-Muslim malice, anti-immigrant invective, and homophobia are only effective in an echo chamber.
Kansas elected its first Democratic Senator since 1932 (in which election Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the first of four Presidential terms). Adam Hamilton who won that contest is a clergyman, heading the country’s largest Methodist congregation. James Talarico, the incoming Democratic Senator from Texas, is another man of the cloth.
Voters clarified that they desire delivery of the Word of the Lord — concepts such as “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31 NKJV) and “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NKJV) — rather than doctrinaire drivel.
Democrats should not take the November 3, 2026 election as a mandate as the Trump Administration conceived that the November 5, 2024 election was a blank check, on an account with infinite funds to supply an insatiable appetite.
Republican legislators acting as automatons to advance the administration’s agenda, neglecting legislative duties, received their comeuppance. Democrats embarking on a retribution tour, misunderstanding why they were elected to Congress, shall confront limits on their opportunity as well.
The electorate desires tangible results: Bill Clinton stated the thought concisely during the 1992 Presidential Election — using words crafted by James Carville — “It’s the economy, stupid.”
Jay Wiener is a Northsider
