What a week for America! I am overjoyed, grateful, and hopeful.
In my recent reflection on Rebecca Solnit’s “The Beginning Comes After the End,” I wrote that progress is rarely linear. It takes courage, persistence, and people willing to show up. This midterm election, Americans showed up. And made history. Democrats made extraordinary gains, with victories that broke barriers:
- Texas: Gina Hinojosa became its first Latina governor; James Talarico ended a nearly 40-year Democratic Senate drought, championing economic fairness and unity.
- Michigan: Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim U.S. senator, bringing his medical expertise and advocacy for Medicare for All.
- Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms became America’s first Black woman governor, prioritizing economic opportunity.
- New Mexico and Minnesota: Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman governor; Peggy Flanagan, the first Native American woman senator — both advocates for Indigenous rights and working families.
- New Hampshire: Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate.
- South Carolina: Annie Andrews became the first woman elected to the Senate from South Carolina. A pediatric doctor, her winning messages prioritized health care coverage.
- Nationwide: Amy Acton, Xavier Becerra, David Crowley, Aaron Ford, and Amy Klobuchar broke gubernatorial race and gender barriers with pro-democracy messages.
At our best, America embraces its diversity. We are stronger for it. But the pain behind these votes is real. Across America, families struggle to afford groceries, housing, and healthcare. They work harder yet fall further behind.
Americans have spoken — loudly. We want fairness in our democracy and our economy. Money that is not concentrated at the top. Accountability, not corruption. Elected officials who believe in public service, not a would-be “king.”
“We the People” still have power. This election proves that. I am grateful for everyone who made this moment possible and hopeful for what comes next. As Solnit reminds us, an ending can also be a beginning. This week, we turned a page. Now we can write the next chapter.