Purple Map of the US

By Egan Orion

I know with all the handwringing and blame happening with the Democratic Party right now, some want to see major changes in the party. Fine. That's your right to believe. But given the fact that Trump got FEWER votes in 2024 than Biden in 2020 (and not for nothing but he only got the popular vote one time out of 3), I trust that this is still very much a Dem nation. YES make changes. NO don't overcorrect or learn the wrong lessons.

The macro environment was terrible given that nearly every incumbent government around the globe got smashed in their next election. FYI, Harris had the smallest shift of any incumbent in this post-pandemic world, with the average shift in this election being around 6%. Just ask the Tories in the UK on how small that shift was compared to incumbents around the globe. Given that environment, Biden's refusal to see the writing on the wall earlier and Harris having such a short runway, in retrospect it shouldn't be a surprise she lost. (And yes, if I were to identify five things that led to the loss it would be 1) INFLATION (truly the #1 issue) 2) Joe Biden not stepping down sooner 3) Racism/Misogyny 4) Harris's inability to completely break with Biden and 5) (the least among them, in my view but still a factor) the left's overreach on issues of culture and identity.)

In the months and years to come, Dems will debate about whether we should be more centrist, or whether we should prioritize working people more (yes), or whether we should move beyond woke, if we should become the anti-war party again, or if we can have a woman candidate, or a gay candidate, or if this shift is generational or temporary. But please Dems, remember that since 1988, the GOP has only won the popular vote twice, in 2004 and 2024. Our ideas have been popular. It doesn't mean we don't take a close look at what we're doing right and wrong, but guess what? WE WON'T AGREE. Let the arguments happen and let the campaigns be run and won and lost on exploring those ideas.

I know a lot of people in my circle want to hate Trump voters because Trump threatens their lives or those of the people they love. But Trump voters also voted for their own lives, principally their own economic lives, at least in the aggregate. Yes, some are racists/facists/other ists and whatever you feel about them, I'll likely agree with you. But for your average Trump economic voter, hating them/yelling at them/disowning them may make us feel more moral and righteous, but they voted for their lives just like we voted for ours. I think we have to fight like hell against Trump and what will quickly be viewed as an overreach that we should call out at every turn. I get that we woke up in a country last Wednesday that we didn't understand or feel like we knew. But Trump voters are our family members and our neighbors. We don't have to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, but we can show a little grace in understanding people voting for their own lives (or staying home and not voting, which is a vote, as well) even if that vote is at odds with our own interests. I know lots of you reading this will say "fuck that," maybe even most of you. That's fine. I will join in the fight against Trump's excesses, too, just like I did last time. But I choose not to disown the few in my life and the majority of voters who chose something different than I did. Do I think they were uneducated about their choice? If I'm frank, yes probably a lot of them. Will I say "told you so" when we see the worst of Trump, as we undoubtedly will—of course. But I still believe, naively or not, in my heart of hearts, that we all have more in common than not. Nick Fuentes? Fuck that dude. Stephen Miller? Bannon? The list goes on an on. Screw those assholes. But my neighbors and family members? Sorry, that's the not the world I want to live in. That's your right but not my mandate. IF WE WANT TO PERSUADE, WE HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE WE WANT TO PERSUADE. Separation will breed even more contempt. If there are issues important to you (for me, it's LGBTQIA+ freedoms, bodily autonomy for everybody, and protecting DACA immigrants), how do you persuade? By unfriending and canceling? Well, it's not working, clearly. I'm not saying "my way" is the right way, but it is the way where I feel most at home.

BTW, I think the GOP will think that this election gives them carte blanche in the future. They will show their hand very clearly, and in the coming elections (yes I'm 99% confident we'll have elections, though I realize some of you don't think we will), the pendulum will swing as it always does. So it's a good idea for both sides to not overcorrect for the perceived lessons, positive or negative.

I, like a lot of you, am VERY anxious about the next four years. I will fight fiercely for the future of this country and my community and my family, I just may do it a little differently than you do it. I hope that's okay.