ArcaMax

The word “tsunami” is not strong enough. It was more like the “Charge of the Light Brigade,” or “Custer’s Last Stand,” or the “Battle of the Alamo.” Whatever you call it, politics has never seen a total rout like the one we experienced on November 3.

To regain control of the House, Democrats needed to flip four seats. As of November 5, they’ve already flipped 30 and some 48 House seats are still undecided. MSNOW projects Democrats could wind up with a 90-vote advantage in the House, far surpassing the 63 seats Republicans picked up in 2010.

To regain control of the Senate, which nobody thought possible a year ago, Democrats also needed to flip four seats. At this point, they’re already flipped seven, including some of the reddest of states – South Carolina, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, Maine. And Alaska and Mississippi – yes, Mississippi! – are still in play.

The election also produced historic firsts: Gina Hinojosa, first Latina governor of Texas; Xavier Becerra, first Latino governor of California; Deb Haaland of New Mexico, first female Native American governor; David Crowley, first African-American governor of Wisconsin; Keisha Lance Bottoms, first Black woman to be elected governor of any U.S. state; Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed, first Muslim U.S. senator; and New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas, first openly gay senator. It’s an America we can believe in again.

As the numbers rolled in, a clueless Donald Trump tried to distance himself from the results: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” Who’s he kidding? That’s the exact opposite of what he’s been saying. At least 63 times before Election Day, according to the Washington Post, he claimed he was on the ballot. Including Monday, November 2, during a tele-rally in South Carolina: “Get out and vote tomorrow, and pretend I’m on the ballot. And really, I am on the ballot.”

Which he was, in so many ways. He handpicked candidates Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Darline Graham in South Carolina, and Ken Paxton in Texas. He launched a flurry of destructive tariffs. He started the war in Iran. He drove up prices of gas, groceries, and housing. He forced Republicans into a midterm round of redistricting which backfired. He dismissed ethical concerns about lining his own pockets. He spent more time talking about his ballroom and the Reflecting Pool than he did about issues people care about. He promised Americans a $5,000 check, but only if Republicans won.

Of course, Trump was on the ballot, and everybody knew it. He made this election all about him. It was, more than anything else, a referendum on Donald Trump. And voters of every stripe and from every corner of America – red states, blue states, younger, older, urban, rural, white, Black, Latino, Asian – rejected him. He has nobody left but the most brain-dead of MAGA supporters. He is the deadest of dead ducks. If he had any self-respect, he’d resign.

But that begs the question of: What now? Democrats have little time to celebrate, because voters want change. They want action, and they want it now. For Democrats, this is both an opportunity to take charge and a challenge to get something done: on affordability and accountability. Both are important. And Democrats have to start now on both fronts.

On affordability. Move immediately to undo all the ways Donald Trump has propelled higher prices. Cut off all funding for the war in Iran. End the tariffs. Repeal tax cuts for the wealthy contained in Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill.” Restore pending cuts to Medicaid. Ban new data centers. Renew support for new wind and solar energy projects.

On accountability. Immediately demand oversight hearings to hold Trump and his henchmen responsible. Reassert constitutional powers of Congress by killing his White House ballroom, monumental arch, new golf course at Hains Point, and plans to rename and destroy the Kennedy Center. Get ICE out of American cities. Investigate the billion-dollar crypto, mining, and hotel deals Trump and his sons are making in the Oval Office. And challenge the “pay-to-play” favors major corporations and wealthy donors are getting from contributing to his pet projects.

That’s a big order of business. But it can’t wait till January. Democrats have to start now. Even if they don’t yet have the votes, they should introduce legislation and force Republicans to vote on them.

It was a glorious outcome to the midterms. We’ve had a couple of days to celebrate. Now Democrats have to deliver.

(Bill Press is host of The BillPressPod, and author of 10 books, including: “From the Left: My Life in the Crossfire.” His email address is: bill@billpress.com. Readers may also follow him on Twitter @billpresspod and on BlueSky @BillPress.bsky.social.)

©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.