A Little Optimism in this Crisis

This year has felt like a recurring nightmare for the pro-democracy movement in America. We've watched as Donald Trump rampaged through the federal bureaucracy. At his direction, figures like Kristi Noem and Tom Homan have launched what can only be described as a terror campaign against innocent people and their families.

Meanwhile, Trump’s trade policies have shocked the economy—potentially dragging us into a recession. To say it’s been painful to watch would be an understatement.

And yet, despite all of this, I believe there are real reasons to hope.

Democrats have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to seize control of the legislature and, crucially, reinforce the federal judiciary—the only institution that has consistently constrained Trump’s autocratic and illegal actions.

In the coming months, much attention will turn to the Virginia governor’s race. It’s important to state upfront: Democrats can and should win this race. They have both historic and structural advantages that strongly favor Abigail Spanberger taking the executive mansion.

First and foremost, Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers who commute to D.C. Many of them have recently been threatened, fired, or vilified. It’s impossible to fire even a thousand workers—let alone tens of thousands—without triggering economic consequences and electoral backlash.

Without a doubt, the biggest issue in this year’s Virginia governor’s race is DOGE. The race offers Democrats a chance to sharpen their messaging and, more importantly, boost morale at a time when it is at an all-time low.

That said, it’s only one race—and its implications for 2026 may be limited.

Looking ahead to 2026, Democrats have a real shot at taking back Congress. There's an old cliché in politics that says the "party of change" always wins. I'd tweak that slightly: the party with agency will win.

Trump has essentially sidelined Congress in his second administration. He’s done so deliberately, avoiding legislative efforts that could result in failure and expose his weakness. As a result, congressional Republicans have been rendered powerless.

Take immigration, for example. Through a series of cruel executive orders, Trump has effectively halted border crossings. Regardless of how one feels about this policy, congressional Republicans had no hand in shaping it. The same is true of DOGE cuts and tariffs. Even in districts where closed borders or economic nationalism may be popular, Republican legislators can’t claim credit for these policies. They have no agency. They are completely beholden to a president who threatens their jobs and their healthcare.

At first glance, the Democrats’ lack of clear national leadership may seem like a disadvantage heading into 2026. But I’d argue the opposite. For new candidates, this opens the door to make a powerful case: “We, not our opponents, will actually do something in Congress.” Democrats can be the party of action.

Instead of running against individual Republicans, Democrats should run against Trump. Now and in the future, he will be deeply unpopular. By highlighting the failures and dangers of his administration, while promoting their own ability to act, Democrats can present themselves as the party of agency and accountability.

Yes, Trump will try to make the 2026 election as unfair and unfree as possible. He will target Democratic fundraising organizations, investigate opponents, and more. But I remain hopeful that he doesn’t have the time or political capital to fully destroy our democratic system before our last chance to save it.

I’ll say it again: I believe the pro-democracy movement can win in 2026—and even this year. That said, I also believed last year that Kamala Harris would squeak by and win the presidency. There are no guarantees in politics. We all want a blue wave—but we can't rely on one.

Still, it feels like the wind is at our backs. And there are many reasons to be hopeful.