How do you lose, even when you’ve won? One way is how both GOP Congressional candidates in deep, deep, deep red districts in Florida won last night. In districts that Trump had won by 37 and 33 points, respectively, in November, last night’s special elections saw the GOP candidates win Matt Gaetz seat by only 15 points. Mike Waltz’s seat - you remember him, the guy who invited an Atlantic reporter to a Signal channel discussion of military strike plans, AND, as we just learned yesterday, he and his staff used Gmail to discuss sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict - that seat that Waltz won by 33 points in November was claimed by the GOP candidate last night by only 14 points.
In Wisconsin, the Democratic-backed Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford stomped on Trump-annointed and Musk-financed Brad Schimel. Even Brad’s wife doesn’t have a lot good to say about Brad, who she described as a monster in his treatment of their children, but he did manage this one very un-MAGA feat - he conceded a race he clearly lost. Congrats on that, anyway, Brad.
For her part, Susan Crawford has this to say:
In a down-ballot race, the GOP should see another flashing warning sign. Wisconsin‘s nonpartisan school superintendent race pitted incumbent Jill Underly, who had the Democratic Party’s backing, beat back challenger and conservative darling Brittany Kinser.
In a race defined by Musk’s role in taking a wrecking ball to the federal government, including the destruction of the Department of Education, Kinser’s defeat is clearly another rejection of Elon Musk.
Last night should put an end to any lingering questions about why Trump pulled Elise Stefanik’s UN Ambassadorship nomination. She might have won her red, red, upstate New York district in November, but even a 24-point margin doesn’t make Trump feel safe facing a special election to replace her. As flawed as Trump’s judgment generally is, he was right on that one.
But avoiding a special election only delays an election in Stefanik district and every other congressional district across the country. The 2026 midterms will be here before we know it, and the GOP is on a path to lose the House.
Something shifted yesterday as two billionaires lost and two people dedicated to democracy and the rule of law won. The victory was shared by Susan Crawford in Wisconsin and Cory Booker on the Senate Floor. In those victories, the American people won, as well. America is an idea and an ideal, inevitably imperfect and messy in our pursuits. In a time when great acts of statesmanship and leadership are needed, Senator Cory Booker’s historic performance on the Senate Floor captured Americans’ imagination and attention yesterday.
For 25 hours, Senator Booker stood and spoke brilliantly and passionately in opposition to Trump, his demagoguery and cruelty, and called on us all to take up the fight for the America we can and must be. In those 25 hours, Booker not only inspired us but shattered the record for a Senate Floor speech - a record held by avowed segregationist Strom Thurmond since his more than 24-hour filibuster of the 1957 Civil Rights Act. History has judged Thurmond. Booker is helping lead us all to write the next chapter. Together with all of you here in this Lincoln Square community, it will be the story of saving America and a brighter future.
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