Yesterday Proved It: Democracy Is a Verb
You dragged these wins across the finish line.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it last night as I watched Democrats rack up win after win. And it wasn’t about exit polls or some consultant’s postmortem memo. It was about the people—the ones who refused to let this country fully slip into the hands of the worst, loudest, most corrupt assholes in America.
Republicans didn’t just lose elections last night. For the first time in a year, they lost full control of the narrative they’ve been force-feeding the American public: that Donald Trump is beloved, and that resistance is futile.
The American people are pissed. They were promised lower prices—now everything costs more. Promised a booming economy—and we’ve got the weakest job market in five years. Promised a functioning government—and instead, it’s shut down. Health care is bring ripped from people while tens of millions are staring down hunger. And meanwhile? Republicans in the House aren’t even showing up to work.
But people didn’t give up. Over the last year, while the GOP tried to gaslight us into believing Democrats could never win again, we proved them wrong. You said: screw that.
And then you acted on it.
Every No Kings rally. Every special election. Every time communities backed each other when ICE came knocking. Every story of someone stepping up—like when Manny’s Deli in Chicago started handing out sandwiches to folks losing SNAP benefits this week. The retired teacher with aching knees still knocking doors. The union worker running his first door-to-door shift instead of doomscrolling. The neighbor who ran for school board because some MAGA lunatic was screwing up her kid’s education. The priest holding vigil outside ICE detention—not for himself, but because his faith wouldn’t let him sit still.
These aren’t just small acts of resistance. They’re bricks—the foundation of a democracy that can function again. And now, it’s showing up at the ballot box.
Mikie Sherrill stomped Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey—the guy couldn’t have hugged Trump any tighter. Abigail Spanberger dominated in Virginia, and Virgina Democrats flipped more than a dozen GOP-held State Senate seats. Zohran Mamdani broke 50% in New York City, even after all the Trump and Cuomo coordination.
But this isn’t about any one candidate. Yeah, the media will spin it as The Zohran Mamdani Story because to them everything revolves around NYC. And sure—there are lessons to take from that campaign (honestly, one of the most joyful and disciplined races I’ve seen since Bernie 2016).
The bigger story is this: regular people—not institutions, not pundits, not influencers or party hacks—dragged these wins across the finish line. They kept democracy on life support long enough for it to breathe again.
The pundit class will say Republicans lost because of bad messaging or low turnout or Trump fatigue. The White House will act like nothing has changed. Fine. But the truth is: they lost because they betrayed the American people—and because we refused to be bullied into silence.
Because you remembered that democracy only works when people decide it’s worth the fight.
Because we’re done being told this economy is fine.
Done watching federal agents kidnap people off the street.
Done watching the president and his cronies rob taxpayers while millions can’t afford groceries.
But this fight isn’t over.
The people trying to break this country aren’t disappearing. Trump is still president. Republicans still hold Congress. They’ll keep mistaking cruelty for strength. While Mamdani’s numbers were still coming in, Stephen Miller was already online threatening more ICE raids in NYC. It’s going to get uglier.
But last night was a win. In big races and tiny ones.
And we’re going to do it again. In upcoming special elections. In 2026. In 2028. We’re taking this country back—and we’re doing it by building a movement we can actually be proud of. That means pushing the Democratic Party to grow the hell up and get tougher, too.
Don’t take these wins for granted. Let them fuel you. Let them remind you what’s possible. Let them prove—again—that we don’t just hope the arc of the universe bends.
We grab it. We pull.
So whatever you did, however you showed up—breathe it in. You helped build this.
Be proud. You earned that pride.
Whether you worked on a campaign, talked to a neighbor, had the hard conversation, knocked the doors, made the calls—this win is yours.
Celebrate. Then get ready to do it again.
Because the story of this country has never belonged to the people trying to control it through power and greed.
It belongs to the people like YOU who show the hell up.
And last night, we proved it again: democracy isn’t a noun. It’s a verb.
With urgency,
—Mike
Ummm- what about Detroits new black female mayor— crickets! Michigan is
a female powered powerhouse! Her name is
Mary Sheffield!
Say it loud!
Mike- Please don't make the mistake of trying to appeal to only democrats. I was a registered Republican for 40 years. There are lots of us who liked the Republican party before Trump took it over and made it a dirty word. There is one thing he's good at...he's the best con man ever. But he can't fool all of the people all the time.