Reflections on Recent Electoral Outcomes
Right now, the American left seems to be cheering about some recent electoral wins in places like New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia. They think these victories—predictable, to be honest—will somehow translate into success during the 2026 midterms and maybe even a mandate in the 2028 presidential election. But, I can’t help but feel this optimism is a bit misguided, maybe bordering on delusional, especially considering what progressive policies have historically wrought.
Midterm elections are often a tough uphill battle for the party in power. We’ve seen it before—George W. Bush in 2002 and Franklin Roosevelt in 1934 both made gains in Congress during tough years. It’s likely that the same kind of dynamic will be in play come 2026. Yet, it’s worth noting that the Republican Party actually won a US Senate seat during the 2018 midterms under Trump’s first term. Meanwhile, Biden initially felt a boost with John Fetterman joining the Senate in 2022, but that level of enthusiasm seems to have dissipated.
When we look ahead to 2028, it’s doubtful that the momentum from 2026 will be very impactful. I mean, in politics, time moves differently. It feels like a day can stretch into a thousand years, and vice versa. By the time the presidential election rolls around, the consequences of leftist policies could be glaringly obvious.
In Virginia, for example, it might take a while for the full extent of Democratic policies to settle in. Sure, there’s a notable increase in government positions and some decent gun laws, but the state still has a significant conservative base and relatively less government oversight regarding Second Amendment rights compared to other states.
Even though Democrats occupy both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, the representation remains more balanced, which partially tempers the more extreme progressive agendas. Now, when we talk about New Jersey, it seems to have a strong Democratic lean, likely speeding up a leftward shift even more rapidly than in Virginia. New Jersey has great people, but politically, it resembles New York City in some concerning ways.
Speaking of New York City, it’s become something of a poster child for the failures of leftist policies. The new mayor-elect, Mamdani, proposes initiatives like taxpayer-funded busing and child care, a rent freeze, and a $30-an-hour minimum wage. These policies will likely have immediate repercussions. There’s also a troubling trend of letting inmates participate in city governance.
The city’s decline seems to have started with left-leaning mayors like John Lindsay and David Dinkins. Dinkins, notably, saw his tenure come to an end as crime and homelessness skyrocketed, turning New York into a near-Gotham scenario. Lindsay, who once benefited from a public education, operated under a similar leniency towards crime, and perhaps should have been voted out after one term. Yet, the anti-left vote was split between fairly conservative Democrats and Republicans during his re-election bid in 1969.
Looking ahead, it feels likely that New York will be in a worse state by the time we hit the 25th anniversary of September 11. Under Mamdani’s leadership, crime could spiral out of control. The city’s population may not grow much, and businesses could flee, leaving widespread homelessness as a stark reality. By 2028, the public will surely feel the consequences of these so-called “victories.” There doesn’t seem to be much to celebrate for the left.
