Election night was exactly what we all needed.
Following the returns coming in, it was exhilarating, an experience that helped counter what we felt in 2024.
So yes, on a personal, psychological level, this will fuel us for the enormous work ahead. And this built on No Kings, which again points to the importance of organizing.
But we also surely needed this politically, to counter Trump and the GOP—and the corporate media, which is always pandering to the GOP.
Mikie Sherrill, winning by double digits in the New Jersey race for governor, killed the narrative of New Jersey as drifting toward the GOP. The pollsters and the pundits had a big upset, telling us it was going to be single digits and MAGA Jack Ciatterelli could win. Black and Latino voters, who the media told us had strayed to Trump, voted in big percentages for Sherrill.
In the Virginia gubernatorial race, the spread for Abigail Spanberger’s trouncing was also bigger than predicted, and the GOP harping on a texting scandal didn’t stop Jay Jones from becoming attorney general. The House of Delegates is seeing double-digit pickups for Democrats. Virginia, a true bellwether, is a massive blow to the GOP.
Californian organized fiercely within a matter of two months, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, and voted to fight Trump and Texas by redistricting their congressional map. It was a stunning turnaround—so rapidly—and an understanding of the stakes.
Newsom gave a powerful speech, letting Trump know we will not accept his authoritarian rule. And Newsom implored other Democratic states to follow suit with redistricting — and I think they will.
And in New York, Zorhan Mamdani brings a whole new generation to City Hall, as voters decided it was no more business as usual with the same old corrupt politicians. He ran on affordability, as the other Democrats did, hitting the GOP and Trump for only continuing to enrich the billionaires. Mamdani is also a model for Democrats across the country in how to engage with voters, and he sent a message to Democratic leadership: It’s time for change. Much will be written on that.
Mamdani’s acceptance speech, rather than being conciliatory, was fiery and defiant—the right stance for this moment—as he spoke directly to Trump, telling him to “turn up the volume” to listen, and then letting him know he will have a big fight on his hands if he comes for us. Pitch perfect.
So, let’s celebrate these big wins, and the fact that two women elected as governor, and an immigrant—the first Muslim and South Asian elected to be New York’s mayor—won the marquee races.
We needed it. And the GOP, Trump and the media needed to see it. Our opponents are now on the defensive. Republicans will fret, deathly afraid of what Trump will do to their chances—but also deathly afraid of what he’ll do if they pull away from him. That’s exactly where we want them moving into the 2026 midterm elections.
Michelangelo Signorile writes The Signorile Report, a free and reader-supported Substack. If you’ve valued reading The Signorile Report, consider becoming a paid subscriber and supporting independent, ad-free opinion journalism.
