Elections last week marked a significant shift in American political discourse — with sweeping Democratic Party wins being less a direct reaction to Donald Trump rule and more a result that the opposition has discovered his "kryptonite," a columnist wrote Monday.
Zohran Mamdani, in particular, was an antidote to Trump's message of anger and revenge — and his message of empathy and hoped destroyed his competition, wrote E. J. Dionne Jr. for the New York Times.
He articulated a vision of political engagement that went beyond criticism, appealing to those "who see politics today as too cruel for the flame of hope to still burn," wrote Dionne Jr. In his victory speech, he declared, "New Yorkers have spoken in a clear voice: Hope is alive."
Abigail Spanberger captured the essence of this new political approach in her race to become the Democratic governor of Virginia, observing that "points of pride for people matter" when discussing work and community. She emphasized the importance of listening, stating, "If we're going into communities and listening to what matters to people, there's just a value in grounding our discussions in people's sense of place and who they are."
Democrat Mikie Sherrill championed workers' rights in her New Jersey governor race, asserting, "When you lift workers up, all workers get lifted up." Her campaign approach defied traditional political divisions, winning 50 percent support among voters without college degrees.
The candidates recognized the fundamental emotional need that Trump had previously exploited, Dionne Jr. wrote. As Spanberger noted, "The first thing that people are looking for, I think, in political engagement, is some level of respect."
Mamdani's campaign strategy was particularly innovative. Instead of condemning Trump voters, he simply asked them why they felt disconnected from traditional politics. This approach of genuine curiosity replaced the rhetoric of division, the columnist wrote.
The election results revealed the limitations of Trump's approach. His focus on billionaires and pursuit of a lavish White House ballroom symbolized a disconnect from everyday Americans' experiences.
The victories of Spanberger, Sherrill, and Mamdani demonstrated a powerful political alternative: an approach based on empathy, respect, and genuine engagement with voters' lived experiences, Dionne Jr. wrote. The piece was titled, "Now We Know Trump’s Kryptonite."
As Spanberger reflected on a local hospital's reopening, she captured the underlying message of her successful campaign, Dionne Jr wrote: "Kind of back to the notion of hope, right?"