For those of us who are anticipating a terrific backlash during the midterm elections against the Republican Party and the autocratic moves by President Trump, we could discover our anticipation may be nothing more than wishful thinking. Be prepared for a full four years of the conservatives, the ultraright, the neocons, the libertarians, the Maga movement, the Project 2025ers, the Trump lovers.
The most recent political poll (Quinnipiac University, June 11) indicates even more support for Trump personally, as well as what he has “accomplished”. Republicans gave their Congressional reps a 79% job-approval rating; but Democrats gave their reps a 70% disapproval rating. When asked about the status of America, 75% of Republicans were satisfied or somewhat satisfied and only 9% very dissatisfied. For Democrats, 3% were satisfied or somewhat satisfied, but 80% were very dissatisfied.
So, what do these numbers mean for the midterm elections in November 2026? Since Trump’s control over the Republican Party has occurred, and his election to the presidency, the Republican Party has had a major increase in voter support. Most of these voters have been traditional Democrats: so-called poor working whites, African Americans and Hispanics. It’s as if the Democratic Party has been or is being hollowed out. As a result, the Republican Party may now have a significant voter lead numerically.
How could this happen to the Democratic party that has been around for 150 years and has accomplished so much for the benefit of all Americans? When journalists and the media interviewed Republican voters as to why they voted for Trump after each of the last three presidential elections, their answers were more personal than issue-related. “He’s a cool dude.” “He speaks my kind of language.” “I like his attitude.” “He’s a man’s man.” “He can get things done.” “He’s a tycoon and great businessman” were many of the reasons. But what happened to an evaluation of his real character? The theft of secret military documents, tax fraud, hush money, 88 total criminal counts and so many lies. Apparently, few if any of these really mattered. “That’s just Trump,” or “Trump is being Trump” were the answers. Recently we have heard, “Wait a minute. I didn’t vote for this,” as a more reflective answer.
How is it possible, then, for the Democratic Party to overcome the voting numerical disparity? Possibly, something as simple as a colossal Republican political, economic or military blunder would turn the tables. Or maybe, just maybe, enough voters will realize the significance of the Democratic party in their daily lives; a significance many have long forgotten or didn’t even know existed.
In a Guest Essay Entitled, “My Journey Deep In The Heart of Trump Country” published in The New York Times, the author, Arlie Russell Hochschild, spent seven years in Kentucky’s 5th District, the whitest and third poorest in the nation. For decades the district voted as New Deal Democrats. This last election 81% voted Republican and for Trump. The Democratic turnout was the lowest since 1990! The universal feeling was, “The word Democrat is no longer associated with openness, daring, imagination, and care.” Wow! They have forgotten! Unfortunately, this may be the feeling and level of forgetfulness in many areas of America, and enough to make a major difference.
The belief that the Democratic Party is no longer associated with openness, daring, imagination and care is a very disingenuous/false characterization of the party and its many presidents, governors, congressional and state representatives and their hundreds of laws and programs. For example, the present federal budget reveals where the heart of our government truly lies. The 2024 budget was $6.9 trillion. Half of that amount is spent on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance, Affordable Care Act and dozens of other programs such as veterans benefits and services, education, employment training and subsidies for health insurance, rent, food (SNAP) and utilities. Well over 200 million people out of our 340 million are involved in these programs. This immense “help-all-citizens-in-need” system started in 1935 when President Roosevelt, a Democrat, made cataclysmic changes in our social and governmental systems. It was called the New Deal. An incredible example of imagination, daring and care that has been fine-tuned and more inclusive by the Democratic Party over the past 90 years!
Sixty years ago Democratic President Johnson added both Medicare and Medicaid to the Social Security Act of 1935. He also supported and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibited discrimination based on religion, race, skin color, sex, or national origin. And in 1965 he added to the Civil Rights Act a law which made it illegal to prevent African Americans from voting. These acts were formidable additions to our democracy; they were the forerunner of DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In many respects these acts were the ultimate in openness, daring, imagination and care.
Consider for a moment what the purpose, responsibility, duty, the levels of concern and protection a government’s role is to its citizenry. For decades Americans supported the New Deal and Democratic congresses implementing social, political and economic changes voters wanted. Many of those changes have been or are now on the chopping block by a president, a Republican Congress, and a Republican controlled Supreme Court – all three branches of our government!
The president, for example, has issued executive orders weakening the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination for race, religion, gender, national origin, etc. This order has quickly spread into the military, government agencies, corporations, schools, general employment and is destroying the concept of DEI when our country is such an incredible mixture of humanity from all over the world.
Today’s target by the Republican Senate is our Medicaid/Medical programs, and if the Senate is successful, Medicare, Social Security, education, and a host of secondary programs will be targeted, too. The strategy is to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government, and thereby state and local governments so that, as the Republican political activist Grover Norquist said, ”I want to abolish the government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” The strategy? Privatize, “corporatize”, individualize most government programs or agencies. Take them out of the hands of government, turn them over to private systems, thereby cutting government expenses and supposedly our own personal taxes. Why do this? Those in control see fortunes to be made in health care, managing the Social Security funds, your 401k, 403b and IRA retirement plans, the US Post Office and much more.
If Democrats, Independents, as well as concerned Republicans don’t “Fight, Fight, Fight” for our existing valuable programs and Democrats fail to win control of both houses of Congress in 2026, the programs surely will be gone and we will curse the day that happens.
July 17 is America’s next show of force: “Good Trouble Lives On.”
John Lewin taught history at MHS for 38 years. Social Science Department chair for 25 years. Channel 10’s runner-up teacher of the year, 2002. MHS PRIDE Lifetime Recognition Award, 2017. Local and national business owner. Former walnut, prune, kiwi grower.
