"When you wake up tomorrow, we will be in the majority, and Nancy Pelosi will be in the minority."
It's been three mornings since Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy made that claim to an empty "victory" party at 2 a.m. The tone-deaf remarks came after hopes of a red wave went up in smoke Tuesday night when election results rolled in. As of this writing and contrary to McCarthy's claims, Republicans still do not have control of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's gavel.
But despite overall disappointing results, there are some red linings that conservatives can celebrate.
First, Florida.
For decades, Florida has determined the outcome of presidential elections as a swing state. After Tuesday, it's bright red.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, and Republicans running for state-wide office swept the map from Destin to Miami. In recently deep blue Miami-Dade County, DeSantis won by double digits.
"We fight the woke in the Legislature. We fight the woke in the schools. We fight the woke in the corporations. We will never, ever surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die," DeSantis said in his victory speech to a packed room of supporters.
"We faced the tasks, we took the hits, we weathered the storms, and we stood our ground. We did not back down. We had the conviction to guide us, and we had the courage to lead. We made promises to the people of Florida, and we have delivered on those promises. After four years, the people have delivered their verdict. Freedom is here to stay!" he continued. "I have only begun to fight."
Florida is a solidly red state because Governor DeSantis rejected the tyrannical government's COVID control. People fled blue states not because Florida has nice beaches but because it is free. His victory there bodes well for the future of Republicans in national elections.
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Second, New York.
While U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin came up short in his bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, his strength at the top of the ticket pulled a number of U.S. House Republicans over the finish line. Republicans were able to flip seats in four districts, holding off a Democratic House majority as other candidates failed to deliver.
In NY-17, Republican State Assemblyman Mike Lawler was victorious over Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney. Maloney served five terms and scalping a chairman hasn't happened since 1980.
"I got into this race almost six months ago because of what was going on in our country and in this state. Folks throughout this district, regardless of where they came from, most understand that we need to restore balance and common sense at every level of government, and I am excited by the opportunity to go to work on behalf of this community and this district and to stand up for our families," Lawler said about his win. "Whether you agree with my politics or not, I will do my level best to fight for your family, to fight for your children, to make sure that our voices are heard."
It's time for the Republican Party to study the victories in Florida and New York, then apply the principles for a successful future.
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