What a difference an Election Day makes.

By Stephen Golub, Benicia resident and author, “Benicia and Beyond” in the Benicia Herald, 11/8/2026

…“You know that flag flying over the courthouse
…Means certain things are set in stone
…Who we are, what we’ll do and what we won’t.
…It’s gonna be a long walk home…”
…………– Bruce Springsteen, Long Walk Home

Donald Trump has done his best to debase that flag and shatter that stone.

America’s dominant political figure over the past decade has been an incredibly corrupt, amazingly incompetent, brazenly bigoted, massively misogynistic, compulsively lying, nation-dividing, retribution-preaching, bribe-taking, hate-mongering, nepotism-exemplifying, Epstein-buddying, pedophile-protecting, sexual-assaulting, minority-demonizing, immigrant-smashing, Obamacare-slashing, election-denying, democracy-subverting, rule-of-law-roiling, insurrection-sparking, criminal-pardoning, dictator-hugging, Putin-kowtowing, Ukraine-betraying, allies-attacking, affordability-afflicting, felony-committing narcissistic sociopath.

But he finally received a remarkable repudiation. What a difference an Election Day makes.

One month ago, how many of us predicted that  the Democrats would win over 250 seats in the House and probably 56 in the Senate? That every statewide position in Texas (Texas!) would go Democratic, as would the state’s House of Representatives?

One month ago, how many of us had even heard of South Carolina Senator-elect Annie Andrews? Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa? Likely Mississippi (Mississippi!) Senator-elect Scott Colom, who’ll be the first Black senator from there since 1881?

The list of shocks, firsts and superlatives is nearly endless. As is the joy many of us are feeling, along with a lightness in our steps and a weight off our shoulders.

And yet…

As former Bill Clinton campaign manager James Carville declared in 1992, “It’s the economy, stupid.” If Trump hadn’t foolishly fueled inflation through his tariffs and war, might many of his disenchanted supporters still be in his thrall? Might many independents have held their noses and still preferred the Republicans? Might we  be at the start of a nasty, multi-pronged Department of Justice fight to overturn Democratic victories?

Now, other factors played parts in the huge Democratic win, but they were also Trump’s responsibility: his corruption; his  reflexively unintelligent embrace of artificial intelligence and data centers; ICE’s violent, repressive overreach.

With a series of polls last month indicating that the public still views the Democratic Party unfavorably by a 53 to 41 percent margin,  this election was more about rejecting Trump than trusting Democrats. There’s still lots of ground to cover in that regard.

My point here is not to rain on the parade. I remain elated by the results, not least because their implications go far beyond simply winning. For instance…

The Democrats can now push through legislation for targeted tax cuts, tariff relief, Iran war oversight, health insurance subsidies, stabilizing social security and many other matters.

What if, as seems inevitable, Republicans oppose such measures and Trump vetoes them? Then that’s fuel for the Democratic fire for the 2028 campaign.

The Democrats will launch major investigations into the corrupt dealings of Trump, his cronies and his family, as well as the many illegal or otherwise execrable steps his administration has taken.

The election has elevated a new generation of dynamic Democratic leaders. Complementing that, young voters swung hard to the left, with 70 percent backing Democratic House candidates.

All that being said, this is just the start of a very tough journey for American democracy, one that hopefully takes us to an even more just and tolerant place – an even more perfect union – than our flawed but preferable pre-Trump periods.

Then there’s our place in the world. We elected Trump twice. Can we really guarantee our allies and admirers that we won’t turn to someone like him again? It will take years, maybe decades, to regain the world’s trust – if it happens at all.

It’s going to be a long road home.

But at last we’ve taken the first, very big step.

[Much closer to home: Here in Benicia, poll workers at one Election Day polling station were witnesses to more modest but still-notable examples of democratic inspiration. One took the form of several folks volunteering that this was their first time voting – to the applause of those present.

Another instance was a woman who, though she lacked hands, was so determined to cast her ballot herself that she used her toes to maneuver it into the ballot box.

Democracy, like many things in life, is something to never take for granted.]

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Stephen Golub writes about democracy and politics, both in America and abroad, at A Promised Land: America as a Developing Country.

…and… here’s more Golub on the Benicia Independent

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