Hope Won!

a post-election chat with Jess McIntosh

By now, you’ve probably heard that Democrats won big across the country last night. From Governor and Lt. Governor in Virginia to Proposition 50 in California to school boards and city councils across the country, people made their voices heard. And some of the biggest swings, especially in Virginia, were amongst suburban women.

This win goes far beyond the races that were on the ballot last night. This is a win for every American who wants to preserve democracy, common sense and decency.

Ever since the devastating losses in 2024, we’ve been saying “when they go low, we go local.” Some people were skeptical — how could “going local” stop ICE from invading our cities? Or Trump from cutting food stamps for children?

But it was about planting seeds. Those seeds have already grown into some pretty incredible results… who knows what our harvest in 2026 or 2028 will look like?

The work doesn’t end, but we all deserve a little rest. In fact, we deserve to rest and celebrate! So let’s take a moment and feel all the feelings. Let’s thank someone who worked on a campaign or turned out their friends to vote. Today reminds us what’s possible. Even in the face of all the darkness this year has brought, we can shine our own light. And when we shine together, there’s no stopping us.

We’ll be sharing more wins and inspiring stories over the coming weeks. Celebrate, get some rest, and stay tuned!