2025 has been dominated by the chaos imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. But as the year comes to a close, we are starting to see, especially in recent weeks, Trump’s power over the political imagination of the electorate dissipate.
Opposition to Trump’s authoritarianism and the widespread demand for an affordable economy has culminated in Democratic electoral victories in the New York City mayoral race and gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey.
Not limited to Democratic strongholds, low-level statewide races in Georgia swung to the left. Even in the intensely gerrymandered 7th Congressional District of Tennessee, Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn cut Trump’s 22-point victory in the district last year to a single-digit margin in Tuesday’s special election.
Heading into a midterm election year, we are seeing a leftward electoral shift across the country. Amid this seemingly impending Democratic wave, much attention in 2026 will be placed on the races for the U.S. House and Senate, and to be sure, these are crucial elections.
But this should not deter us from seizing opportunities in local races as well. In Hamilton County, given enough engagement with the electorate, this political success on the left can translate into victories closer to home.