Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a late-night midterm election watch party at Hudson’s Department on November 4 in Detroit, Michigan.
Salwan Georges/Getty Images/Getty Images North America
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Salwan Georges/Getty Images/Getty Images North America
Democrats coasted towards victory late last night, taking control of the House of Representatives and the Senate by considerable margins. Several states traditionally characterized as “deep red,” including Texas, Kansas and Iowa, have shifted toward Democrats in recent years. Senate for the first time in decades. Democratic candidates also obtained a convincing majority Home races, despite contests in several states whose districts were redrawn to favor Republicans.
Across the country, Democrats gubernatorial candidates has also pulled ahead, winning races in GOP strongholds like Georgia, Ohio and Texas. By 2027, Democrats will officially regain control of Congress and hold at least 28 governorships.
Newly elected Democratic officials, party leaders and pollsters joined us. Morning edition Wednesday morning to share their insights on the massive wave of Democratic victories in state and local races. In their interviews with NPR’s Steve Inskeep and Michel Martin, these Democrats discussed lessons learned from the midterm results, the effects of mid-decade redistricting efforts, the mandate received from voters and next steps for the party. You can read some key points from the discussions below.
Abdoul El-Sayed
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed made Michigan history, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate as Democrats regained control of Congress. He said his opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, campaigned using El-Sayed’s name and faith as a weapon rather than tackling issues that Americans really care about, like Medicare for All and the price of everyday goods.
El-Sayed also discussed his views on legislation surrounding the Iran war, and he agreed with Trump’s planned end to approximately $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel.
Martin asked him about his lack of support from some Jewish and black voters, something El Sayed said he hoped to remedy.
“There’s always more work to do. There’s always more to build. There’s always more conversations to have,” he said.
To listen to Abdul El-Sayed in full Morning edition interview, Click here.
Eric Holder
Eric Holder, chairman of the Democratic National Redistricting Committee and attorney general under former President Obama, explained how mid-decade redistricting affected midterm results. Speaking to Martin, he said the GOP’s gerrymandering efforts have backfired, causing candidates to lose in districts specifically drawn for success.
“(Republicans’) redistricting efforts have not only failed: they have been dismantled,” Holder said.
To listen to Eric Holder in full Morning edition interview, Click here.
Stacey Abrams
Georgia Democrats won seats up and down the ballot, and Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action, said the party has been heading toward that outcome since 2010. In her interview with Martin, she added that she was proud of Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. Abrams campaigned for the same governorship in 2018 and again in 2020, although she was never elected to the position.
Abrams said Democratic victories for governor, attorney general, secretary of state and the House of Representatives “give us an opportunity to begin to correct and restore the rights that we have seen lost in the South for over 20 years.”
To listen to Stacey Abram in full Morning edition interview, Click here.
Ken Martin
Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said yesterday’s election marked his party’s biggest victory in more than a century. Voters gave Democrats a mandate to tackle affordability, health care and systems that exclusively benefit wealthy Americans, he told Martin and Inskeep, and he believes the newly elected Democrats can deliver on those promises.
“Our candidates at all levels ran for something, not against something,” he said. “They gave people a positive view of what Democrats would do while we were in power.”
To listen to Ken Martin in full Morning edition interview, Click here.
Margie Omero
Democratic pollster and strategist Margie Omero explained why last night’s results are a direct reflection of voters’ distrust of Washington’s leaders. She said contested races have consistently tilted toward Democrats, despite the GOP’s high spending during the election season.
“Voters really wanted to send a very clear message, and they couldn’t have been clearer than what we heard last night,” Omero said.
To listen to Margie Omero in full Morning edition interview, Click here.
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