This election proved that progressive ideas are popular.
There’s no way around it, John: the results of this month’s presidential election sucked. Big time.
But when you look at the other races and questions that were on voters’ ballots, the picture starts to look a little brighter. Here are some of the big wins Democrats and progressives scored on Election Day:
- Voters protected abortion access via ballot measures in seven states! And in Florida, it won a majority of the vote but just fell short of the 60% needed for passage.
- Alaska and Missouri raised the minimum wage via ballot measure, while Missouri also implemented paid sick leave. Pro-worker policies are popular across the country, and Democrats who run on them can win even in red areas.
- Delaware elected the first transgender member of Congress, Sarah McBride! At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly under attack, Sarah’s election sends a strong message that we’re not going back.
- Swing state Democrats performed well. In North Carolina, Democrats won five statewide races and broke the GOP’s supermajority in the legislature. In Pennsylvania, Democrats retained their majorities too.
Donald Trump’s election is an undeniable setback. But this election also proved that progressive ideas are popular — we just need the right candidates to communicate our values and the right organizing infrastructure to win.
If you’re ready to kickstart the fight to elect Democrats in 2026, 2028, and beyond, consider making a donation to Run For Something today. They do the hard work of recruiting and training quality candidates for races up and down the ballot.
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Now is not the time to give up, John. It’s time to double down and keep fighting.
— LeftNet.org
