The political class is in overdrive this morning, dissecting every angle of Tuesday’s election results like they’re reading tea leaves. And let’s be honest — for Republicans, there’s some cause for concern. But let’s also keep perspective.
I didn’t expect major GOP breakthroughs last night in places like Virginia, New Jersey, New York, or California. These are deep-blue states where Democrats have had a lock for years. Virginia, in particular, has been drifting left for over a decade. So while former Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s win over Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears in the governor’s race is disappointing, it’s hardly shocking. Five of the last seven governors in Virginia have been Democrats — this just confirms what we already knew: the Commonwealth has swung back under blue control.
While Republicans absolutely need to keep fighting — even in the bluest of states — no one should be shocked by what happened in New Jersey, California, and New York. These outcomes were predictable. Sure, it’d be great to see the GOP competitive again in these places, but that’s going to take sustained effort, not wishful thinking.
In New York, outspoken socialist Zohran Mamdani’s win in the mayoral race all but guarantees that America’s greatest city will sink even deeper into decline. In California, Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 passed — a blatant power grab that will gerrymander the state even further and likely cost Republicans multiple House seats. And in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill defeated Jack Ciattarelli, despite his strong campaign and tireless work on the trail. He gave it everything he had, but the blue machine held firm.
So where does this leave Republicans? Frankly, I’m not losing sleep over losses in deep-blue states — those were always long shots. What worries me is what these results signal about the road ahead. If we don’t get our act together now, we could be setting ourselves up for real trouble in 2026.
Tuesday night should serve as a wake-up call. In Georgia, Democrats flipped two Public Service Commission seats from red to blue — a small race, yes, but a big warning sign. With Democrat Jon Ossoff’s U.S. Senate seat on the ballot next November, Republicans can’t afford to coast.
The GOP needs to start racking up legislative wins, showing voters that we can govern effectively and deliver results. Momentum matters, and if we don’t build it now, we’ll be handing the Democrats exactly what they want — another election cycle to spend running the country into the ground while blaming us for it.
Here’s the fundamental problem the GOP keeps running into: when President Trump isn’t on the ballot, Republican performance becomes a coin toss. Sure, presidential elections always draw higher turnout, but that’s not an excuse. Republicans have to start winning on the strength of their ideas and accomplishments — not just on the energy Trump brings to the ticket.
If there’s one thing every Republican in Congress should learn from Trump, it’s his relentless work ethic. The man doesn’t stop. He’s earned the nickname Mr. Worldwide for a reason — in just nine months back in office, he’s done what the Washington establishment said was impossible. He’s secured the U.S. border faster than anyone thought could be done, made real progress in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and helped bring unprecedented stability to the Middle East. The release of all remaining hostages from Hamas — something most believed would never happen — was achieved under his leadership, and in record time.
Republicans in Congress need to stop playing defense and start pushing the envelope. It’s time to force Democrats to go on record voting against the interests of the American people. When it comes to investigations, don’t bury the truth — put it front and center. The Arctic Frost revelations are a prime example. We know Democrat leadership has weaponized government power to target conservatives. If these reports prove true, then accountability means prison time — not just for political points, but to show that Republicans are done tolerating the lawfare that’s been unleashed against everyday Americans and conservative leaders alike. It’s obscene, and it has to end.
Republicans must walk and chew gum at the same time — investigate, legislate, fundraise, and communicate. Every single day should be a grind. No excuses. No coasting. Take a lesson straight from President Trump’s playbook: hard work delivers results.
If the GOP loses control of the House or Senate next November, Democrats will treat it as a green light to stonewall Trump’s agenda for the rest of his term — and to build a media circus aimed squarely at 2028. Republicans have the majority now. It’s time to act like it.
