THOMPSON: America is still a democracy despite Trump

A year from now, more than 82 million Americans will vote in mid-term elections. It will be a record turnout. Americans will elect thirty-five of its 100 Senators…and all 435 Representatives in the U.S. Congress.

On that same day, voters also will choose 36 state governors, 10 lieutenant governors, 30 attorneys general, 26 secretaries of state, 27 state treasurers, 24 mayors…and literally hundreds of local officials that will govern small towns and counties…as well as  new members for hundreds of school boards.

It is democracy in action…and yes, America remains a democracy…despite Donald Trump’s and every MAGA Republican’s attempts to subvert it in favour of a dictatorship.

Why am I so confident that record numbers of voters will turn out…and right will prevail over wrong…good will win over evil. Americans will choose – overwhelmingly – Democrats over Republicans…and democracy over authoritarian rule?

The results of last Tuesday’s off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, New York City, Pennsylvania, Georgia and California are unmistakable evidence that Americans are getting weary of Donald Trump. Trump’s hopes and dreams of being king…will be just that…his hope…his dream.

Last week, voters in New Jersey chose a governor, as did voters in Virginia, who also chose a lieutenant governor, an attorney general and a state legislature. Overcoming Republican biases against women, East Indian immigrants and Muslims, Ghazala Hasmi won the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race handily – by 7 percentage points – becoming the first Muslim anywhere in America to win a state-wide election.

New York City chose a mayor. Pennsylvania voters voted yea over nay on retaining Democrats for three state Supreme Court justice positions, Georgia voters unseated two Republican incumbents on its Public Service Commission with two Democrats, and more than 7 million Californians voted on a single measure – Proposition 50 – with nearly two-thirds demanding congressional redistricting after Trump coerced Texas Republicans to gain five seats in the House of Representatives.

In every case…every one…Democrats beat Republicans. They did not win by 1.5 percentage points as Donald Trump did against Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. All the Democrats won by double digits…10, 11, 13 percentage points and more.

If – as a Republican acquaintance in Florida told me about 2024 – “Trump won…it’s democracy…get over it.” Okay, then, if a 1.5 percentage point win is democracy…and it is…a 15 percentage point win must be an even greater example of democracy? Truly, a mandate…not just MAGA Republican wishful thinking that a less than majority 1.5 percentage point win is a mandate.

The plain and simple truth is…the cost of living is hurting Americans. Even some who just months ago supported Donald Trump…now realize he lied…about everything. Groceries cost more, rents cost more, health care cost more…tariffs are thwarting the economy. 

People don’t like masked ICE agents taking people off their streets…attacking those expressing their First Amendment rights. They don’t like the military policing streets in cities governed by Democrats with lower crime rates than Republican-led cities with higher crime rates.

The final straw breaking the GOP elephant’s back? Trump’s tearing down the East Wing of the White House – the people’s house not his house – because he wants a kingly 90,000 square foot ballroom.

The results in New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania and California shows an emerging pattern. Trump did the one thing he couldn’t afford to do…he pissed off the American public. 

The change is palpable…the hundreds of Trump signs and flags that were once in Florida – where I am right now – can hardly be found today. Once proud Trumpists are slinking back into the shadows. No one likes a liar and cheater…especially when they are enriching themselves and their wealthy friends.

Of course, the hard-core MAGA Republicans won’t relent…they’ll lie, cheat and steal every day until Nov. 4, 2026…the day after the mid-term elections. But Americans aren’t sitting back any longer. The days of taking a knife to a gun fight are over for Democrats.

The most interesting thing about all the Democrats who won…is they’re all different. Zohran Mamdani – the new mayor of New York City – is a Democratic Socialist…and a Muslim. Abigail Spanberger – a Centrist Democrat – is the first woman ever elected Governor by Virginians…in more than 250 years. Mikie Sherril, a former Navy helicopter pilot and four-term member of Congress, crushed Republican Jack Ciattarelli…who had Trump’s endorsement.

The elections prove that you can be different – a progressive, a centrist, a woman, a Muslim – and still call the Democrat tent home. The Republican tent has room for only Trump Republicans. 

The days of Republicans winning because they pit folks working two jobs to make $40,000 a year against those earning $50,000 a year…are done. Hard-working people and poor people are Republican victims. Wealthy politicians and corporations that never pay their share are the criminals…and the beginning of the end is here.

Americans are speaking up and leadership of the Democrat Party better listen. The young men who have voted for Trump and Republicans for the past ten years overwhelmingly voted Democrat last Tuesday. So did women…Black, Hispanic and white…who once supported Trump.

When working class folks look at the Democrat Party…they must see themselves as belonging. That means letting the old guard go…Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi…who served well, but don’t reflect today’s voters. The number one rule of effective communications: know your audience. Democrats…invite everyone to the party.

Of course, Trump and Conservative Republicans never seem to learn. Immediately, they claimed voter fraud last week. Really, in every state? In every race? Apparently, voter fraud appears some years…when Republicans lose…and not in other years…if Republicans win.

Just for the record…there has never been a case of hundreds of thousands of votes being fraudulent. The Heritage Foundation – a Conservative think tank – found just 82 cases of fraudulent voting since 1969…and the majority involved Republicans.

Trump took to social media within hours of the dismal Republican results last week, speaking about himself in third-person, saying the losses were because “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT”. Well, increasingly, that’s what America wants…no Trump on the ballot…no Trump in what’s left of the White House.

Republicans and some stupid corporate CEOs are now in a quandary…they never stood up to Trump…a known liar, cheater, bigot, mysoginist…among many other character flaws. So, what to do…what to do? Desert Trump…and look foolishly stupid…or continue to support him…and look foolishly stupid.

The toothpaste is out of the tube, folks. And all the would-be king’s horses and all the would-be king’s men can’t put Humpty-Dumpty Trump back together again. Decent folks are weary…tired of everything Trump and MAGA Republicans stand for.

It’s a horrible, no good, very bad day for Trump and Republicans…but it’s a great day for democracy and America.