Donald Trump clinched a historic win on Election Day 2024. In the aftermath, Trump has remade the Republican Party into a multiracial, working-class party that, as of now, is going to be very hard for Democrats to beat with their current messaging strategy. But the GOP also needs to avoid this trap amid this epic trouncing of liberal America.
Let’s recap and celebrate: It was a MAGA landslide. Trump amassed the most significant Electoral College victory for the GOP in 36 years. He won the popular vote, a Republican first in 20 years. We also retained the House and retook the Senate—we got the trifecta, which eluded us by 90,000 votes in 2020. Trump made gains in every state except Washington. Eighty percent of all counties shifted toward the Republican Party, and the wealthiest parts of the country saw the most significant shifts. The reasons were simple: inflation and the economy.
Democrats thought abortion and the women’s vote would carry them to victory, a shoddy reading of the electorate that cost the party dearly at the polls. They raised $1 billion and are now $20 million in debt. Yet, as we look at the new GOP, one thing has been clear: Donald Trump has transformed the party into one that can win the Rust Belt, that can put states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in play that were long viewed as “no go” zones for the GOP.
If liberals are looking at the exits and only thinking that racism or misogyny explains Trump’s trouncing of Kamala, then expect GOP wins over the next several election cycles. People are tired of the Democrats’ whining, lecturing, and snobby disposition that’s leading to white people telling blacks how they should vote. It’s nothing new, but the Trump hysterics have driven these people to madness. It presents an extraordinary opportunity for the GOP. With the Democrats leaderless, adrift, and fraught with infighting, the Republican Party has a crease to exploit when the governing begins. Focus on notching legislative wins one at a time. It’s like a professional sports team in-season—don’t think playoffs or championship yet. It’s one game at a time. You push the agenda you ran on, which led to this massive balance in political capital, and it could keep the Trump coalition together.
That’s the trap.
There will be a temptation to discuss whether the exits show a permanent political majority, three words I despise. And it’s a concept that gets memory-holed once a party clinches a decisive win. After 2004, Republicans thought they could form one based on national security issues. In 2008, it was the “end of conservatism” with the ushering of the Obama coalition, which has now totally collapsed. Labor unions broke in healthy numbers for Republicans, and young people weren’t as gung-ho about Kamala and the Democrats. It’s over, which isn’t shocking. In the words of pre-Trump George Will, public opinion is shiftable sand, therefore, there are no permanent victories in a system like ours.
And every time, that consensus gets wrecked. In 2006, there was a blue wave in the midterms. In 2010, the Tea Party arrived. Trump voters aren’t reliably Republican, either; a nice chunk voted for Democrats in 2018. I don’t mind that, as it paints the danger Republicans face if they lollygag on policy initiatives, like the economy and border security, and get bogged down in nonsense once January arrives.
I don’t think 2024 is some permanent win. It’s a mandate to get things going for the first 18 months. Can the GOP amass a string of victories to make the case and keep the ship steady as she goes in 2026? It’ll be unprecedented. Only 2002 saw the incumbent party gain seats, and that was after we endured a catastrophic terror attack. History can also be a stubborn thing. No incumbent party has ever retained the White House where only 28 percent thought the country's direction was going well. So, let’s not think about the midterms, then. The GOP should focus on getting as much done beforehand, and there could be a surprise.
Either way, reducing the cost of living, getting the mass deportations lined up, finishing the border wall, rebuilding the military, putting out Joe Biden’s fires aboard, and making Trump’s tax cuts permanent are just the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t even touched on judicial vacancies and the Supreme Court battles that are likely ahead.
Frankly, there shouldn’t be any talk of permanent majorities from anyone since we simply don’t have the time.
Great kid but don't get cocky
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) November 12, 2024
In 2026 all 435 House seats are up for election. The party in power usually loses a lot of seats. Hakeem Jeffries will stick his fat head right into the spokes of the victory machine if they win the house back in 2 years.https://t.co/pOFSxZIdZX https://t.co/TI4DLGab3V