Pre-chewed and spit just for your convenience:
In the aftermath of the 2022 midterm elections, it’s clear that the American people have had enough of the “crazy.” All across the country, voters went to the polls and rejected the candidates who they felt were too extreme, too divisive, and just plain too nuts for office. In doing so, they sent a loud and clear message: we’re done with the lunatics.
The Results Are In
There’s no denying that the midterms were a resounding victory for the Democrats. They took back control of the House, flipping dozens of Republican-held seats in the process. But while the overall results were good for the party, there were also some very significant losses. In Florida, for example, Andrew Gillum—the Democratic candidate for governor—fell just short in his bid to become the state’s first African American governor. And in Texas, Beto O’Rourke—the much-hyped Democrat challenging Ted Cruz for Senate—also came up short.
What do these two losses have in common? Both Gillum and O’Rourke ran on very progressive platforms, and both lost to more moderate opponents. This is not a coincidence. It’s a sign that Americans are no longer interested in electing candidates who are too far to one side or the other. They want politicians who are willing to work together to get things done, not those who are only interested in advancing their own agendas.
This shift was also evident in some of the other races that were on the ballot this year. In Georgia, for example, Stacey Abrams—another progressive Democrat—lost her bid for governor to Republican Brian Kemp. But Kemp only won by a slim margin, and it was thanks in part to Abrams’ strong showing that Democrats flipped two Republican-held seats in the state’s House delegation. Again, this is a sign that Americans are no longer content to elect extremists; they want politicians who will work across party lines to get things done.
It’s clear that Americans are fed up with extremism. They want politicians who are willing to work together to solve problems, not those who are only interested in furthering their own agendas. The results of the 2022 midterms show that this is a major shift in our political landscape, and one that is sure to have far-reaching consequences. Only time will tell what those consequences will be, but one thing is certain: America is done with “crazy.”