“We’re 2,000 miles from Mexico, but we’re feeling the [brunt of the] migrant crisis almost every day.” Does that sound like a Democrat or a Republican? The fact that it was a Democrat who said it and that Democrat went on to win a tight race is a sign for the future. The 2026 midterms are coming, and they need to start the fight.
As the old saying goes, life is not a sprint but a marathon. And, let’s face it, no marathon is complete without a few faceplants. As legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” These are lessons for the future. 2024 is over. But the battles for 2025 are just beginning.
The consequences of Donald Trump’s win and the Republican trifecta of the Presidency, House, and Senate seem dire for the Democratic National Party (DNC). But in terms of lessons – New York is a bright spot. Democrats have now flipped four seats in New York, with one win in February and three wins on November 5 – against a rightward shift among voters in New York and across the country.
While pouring money into phonecalls and knocking on doors in close races has helped the Democrats to some extent, those phonebanking campaigns and millions of GOTV visits could have made an even larger difference if the DNC had tailored messages to their audience.
For example, in New York, instead of getting defensive about ‘vulnerabilities’ like immigration and crime, the DNC leaned into it. Laura Gillen pulled this off most bluntly: She shot a TV ad in front of a sign at the Nassau County line, declaring, “We’re 2,000 miles from Mexico, but we’re feeling the migrant crisis almost every day.”
After seeing the ad in October, a strategist from another state told Vanity Fair, “I had to look up that Gillen is, in fact, a Democrat.”
Clearly, the DNC needs someone who is a prolific fundraiser and a gifted communicator who can chart the party’s comeback for the 2026 midterms – and as New York shows, it is time to tackle Democract’s vulnerabilities head-on.
And there is not a moment to lose – especially regarding fundraising.
Take Virginia. Every time Trump wins, Virginia swings for the Democrats in the next state elections. In 2017, that meant a stunning 15-seat gain. So, can this magic be repeated in 2025? It’s time to send out the texts and knock on the doors to find out. Abortion rights, climate policy, and education are likely to be central issues.
Read Also: The Perfect Doorstep Interaction in Political Canvassing
The 2025 race for Virginia’s attorney general is also starting to take form, with three candidates having officially declared their bids.
Among Governors, New Jersey has an upcoming election, and New York will soon elect a new Mayor.
So there are elections aplenty, and the campaigning for the midterms in 2026 must start today if hearts and minds have to be won over for any major swings.
Can the Democrats do it, battered and bruised? Derek Redmond shows the way.
Derek Redmond, a British sprinter, captured hearts during the 1992 Olympics. Halfway through the 400-meter semifinal, his hamstring snapped. Rather than staying down, he got up and limped toward the finish line. What made the moment unforgettable? His father rushed onto the track to help him cross the line.
The crowd roared, not for victory but for perseverance. As Redmond later reflected, “You don’t have to finish first; you just have to finish.”
Limping toward your goals is better than sitting it out. So, what is anyone waiting for? Get calling! Onwards to the 2026 midterms.
