Will Republicans Learn Their Lessons from the 2026 Election?
History repeated itself and the party in power lost big on Election Day. If President Trump is being honest with himself, he should be stepping back and taking some of the blame for his messaging, especially in the final weeks before the election. Standing in front of the beautifully restored reflection pond while rambling on and on about the materials used and other restoration projects might have been his happy place, but it was totally irrelevant to the message voters needed to hear: How are you going to lower gas and food prices? What are you doing to help us afford our healthcare and insurance?
While we know that the cause of high prices in California is a result of Democrats mismanaging the State, voters were expecting their President to fix these problems. They told us on Election Day that Republicans failed. Voters took those Democrats spouting narratives about restoring affordability at their word, even though they didn’t provide any details of how they would accomplish free healthcare for all, lower gas prices, while having the “billionaires” pay for it.
This election also demonstrated why past Presidents have not taken on the difficult tasks of stopping Iran’s ability to deploy nuclear weapons, securing our borders and addressing the status of millions of undocumented immigrants, reducing spending, and targeting fraud in government programs and elections. Solutions to these longterm problems are always messy and appear to lack compassion.
Promises Made. Promises Kept.
President Trump showed us how frustrated he was that voters weren’t seeing all that he had accomplished. People like me who pay attention, know how extraordinary his leadership has been. I also know that solutions take time. Still, in record time, he was able to make improvements to our economy, our security, and our future as a nation while weaning Europe and other nations from our status as their piggy bank. I get it. But most voters don’t watch or read the news, liberal or conservative. They don’t trust politicians and are just trying to get by. More importantly, they don’t feel better off than they were two years ago.
Others who should be reflecting on their roles in this election failure include the State Republican parties and County Committees. Their so-called communications experts and consultants were totally out of touch and lacked the ability to creatively and effectively use modern methods of communication.
In California, we’ve had the far right take over several Central Committees only to lose elections last night in our dwindling House and Legislative seats. They neglected the voters and thought all they had to do is warm a seat once a month at meetings while criticizing fellow Republicans they considered to be less than pure. So tragic, and they need to be replaced with Republicans who will do the work at the grassroots level, which requires actually talking to voters! They need to understand where voters are getting their information, what they care about, while not neglecting communities in urban areas. We don’t have to compromise our values and solutions. But we do need to understand how to explain them to voters. Stuffing envelopes for Carl DeMaio didn’t work.
With Democrats in power, how long before they start changing the rules to cement their authority. This is what we have experienced in California where election officials thwarted all attempts to determine if some of the millions of illegal immigrants were registered to vote. They use the honor system…right. They have firmed up laws to protect incumbents while establishing new Congressional Districts and making sure there are financial incentives for immigrants to come to California so the Census will give them even more democrat seats.
Senator-Elect El Sayed just said, “We are coming for your system of politics.” Believe him! No doubt he and other radical Islamists have big plans for expanding Mosques and Sharia Law throughout the USA. Texas will be first on their list. Only then will the big tent coalition find out that his true allies don’t support gay or women’s rights, and Jews are now in greater danger on the streets of the USA.
Ballot Measures Wins and Other Victories
All that said, California voters did not support taxing billionaires, several states now prohibit taxing unrealized income such as 401Ks, and it looks like many states, including Nebraska, Washington, Arizona, and Colorado, supported women and girls sports. Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee are in good hands, as well as many other red states. There were victories that will be overshadowed by losing the House and Senate. We can learn from both.
Now it’s time for the RNC to determine if Vance is our best hope for 2028 – or listen to Republican donors and leaders who want Rubio but are afraid to say it out loud. I have nothing against the Vice President, but it’s clear he needs to spend more time with his beautiful family.
Buckle up! Do the work. We can prevail in the next election.