The record-breaking turnout at more than 3,300 No Kings rallies across the country, including thousands of us in Hancock County, is only the latest evidence that Americans are pushing back hard against President Trump and the MAGA agenda.
We saw early signs five months ago when Democrats scored sweeping victories in the November elections. But the details within some of those victories and in special elections around the country since then put the level of opposition building against Republicans in perspective.
For example:
- In the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races won by Democrats last November, their successes were bolstered by the fact that 7% of Trump voters in each state swung back to support them.
- In January, Democratic union leader Taylor Rehmet flipped a Texas senate seat with a double digit victory in a deep red district Trump had won by 17 points a little over a year earlier. And Rehmet won after being outspent 20 to 1.
- Last month, Democrats in Florida flipped two more statehouse seats – one of them in a district that includes Mar-a-Lago. Trump had won that district by 19 points only 15 months earlier. In both races, more Republicans than Democrats turned out to vote, evidence that these victories stem not just from Democratic momentum but also from Republican dissatisfaction.
Across the country Democrats have flipped 30 statehouse seats since Trump took office. Republicans have flipped zero. We are confident that the momentum building around the country is happening here in Maine too, and we are working on many fronts to make sure Maine voters will be solidly behind Democratic candidates come November.
Researchers who study how Democracies fail recently concluded that Donald Trump is unraveling our Democracy four times faster than Viktor Orban did in Hungary.
The bottom line is that this is likely the most important election year of our lives. We have an opportunity to notch up Democratic victories here in Maine and across the country that are not just wins but victories decisive enough to put the brakes on the damage this president and his enablers are inflicting on our country. It matters not just who is in Congress, but who will be serving here as governor, in our state legislature, in our town halls and courts, and on our school boards.
So please reach out to your local committee or to our county committee to learn how you can help—in small ways or more. Every person who engages adds to the pushback. If not now, when?
Marcia Myers, HCDC Chair
