Democrats Suffered a Devastating Loss. Democracy didn't.

There’s still a slim chance to protect it. Let’s hang in there and fight to save it.

Instead of delivering a blowout to the left, Americans delivered one to the right. The remaining question is whether Republicans will complete the trifecta by gaining full control of the House, Senate, and Presidency.

As of now, that outcome remains uncertain. When I began writing this, Republicans had secured 193 House seats, while Democrats held 173. There is still a chance for Democrats to retain the House. However, it will take more time for the final results to come in, so, unfortunately, we have to wait a bit longer.

We’ll have ample time to analyze what went wrong. At first glance, it seems the 12-year trend of Hispanic voters shifting rightward may have been instrumental in delivering both the Presidency and the Senate to the GOP. Exit polls from Texas show incumbent Senator Ted Cruz winning Latino voters by 6 points—a notable shift, as he lost them by nearly 30 points in 2018. That’s a swing of nearly 35 points toward the GOP.

A significant number of Hispanic voters are working-class Americans, and the GOP’s populist messaging resonates with them. This shift has been compounded by Democrats’ tendency to view them primarily as immigrants rather than as Americans. Millions of Hispanics were born in the U.S. and see immigration issues much like white Americans do. The main difference may lie along educational lines.

For example, a Hispanic voter with a college degree may align more closely with a white voter with a college degree, while a Hispanic without a college degree may align more with a white voter without one. The sooner Democrats understand this and recognize that a strong economy and secure borders are as important to Hispanics as they are to most Americans, the sooner they can begin to address these losses.

The longer Democrats stay on the defensive regarding the economy, the more challenging their position becomes.

Still, tomorrow will not stop coming.

Donald Trump won the election fair and square. There was no cheating and no illegal votes. Democrats lost, and democracy prevailed. Americans have given the GOP a chance to govern.

What Republicans do with their mandate is up to them. This was a decision made by Americans. If Trump initiates mass deportations and increases harsh policies, those who granted the mandate will have to accept the consequences. If he imposes tariffs on imports that harm industries, then the workers who voted for it will have to adjust. That’s how democracy works. Americans have returned control to someone who struggled to manage the country during a once-in-a-century pandemic.

But it was their decision, right? They have the right to choose, and they’ve made their choice. Democracy has prevailed, however wrong that choice might be.

Dark forces are circling American democracy, aiming to turn it into an oligarchy. Donald Trump has shown repeated interest in moving in that direction, as have some MAGA-aligned billionaires who seek to exert control over the state.

Trump and his billionaire allies cannot achieve this alone. Trump will need complete control—a trifecta—to carry out such plans. Even then, it won’t be easy. The drift toward autocracy may begin now, but it could only gain momentum after the 2026 midterms. The 2025 House will likely be the final firewall to protect democracy. Let’s hope the Democrats can hold onto it.

If not, we’ll have to rely on our luck until the midterms, hoping to regain control of the Senate and the House to safeguard democracy.

I am devastated by this loss. But I also understand that giving up is exactly what autocrats want people to do. So, no—I’ll pick up the pieces and get ready for tomorrow. Protecting America isn’t just for us; it’s also for our children. We may feel discouraged, but we have to make sure we pass down a democratic country. We can’t leave them with an authoritarian state.

Not a chance.