An Autopsy: Did Trump Win or Did Harris Lose?

I must live in a bubble, a Harris bubble. I’m surrounded by smart, politically engaged women; this was the election of a lifetime. I was certain, a tsunami of women voters would determine the outcome. We would see an enormous turnout. Pollsters were predicting a close, a very close election, days, maybe weeks before a winner was declared, Trump would not accept a loss, we would see January 6th on steroids. 

I woke up early on the 6th, Trump was winning in every battleground state, Harris turnout was below Biden turnout in 2020, the pollsters were wrong and I was wrong. 

I posted an angry blog, “Joe to Jill:That F__king Pelosi, I Woulda Won ”  Maybe; however, there are no do-overs.

The quick analysis, “the economy,” “inflation,” “the migrants,” “rising crime,” “the border,” which are simply excuses for the core reasons: racism, misogyny with a hint of Anti-Semitism. A majority of Americans, our neighbors, would not vote for a Black women with a Jewish husband..

The Trump foibles were irrelevant, for many, the election was a vote against Harris more than for Trump.

Many of us see the drift to the left as frightening, we are slowly but surely moving towards becoming a majority minority nation, for others, my side, we’re a nation built on immigrants, our parents and grandparents and great grandparents.

“Defund the Police” and “Black Lives Matter,” are associated with Democrats, who are perceived as the rich elites, denigrating the “real America,” the “working class.”

More Latinos and Black males voted for Trump in New York City, while still overwhelmingly Democratic, Republican voters increased, especially in Asian and Latino neighborhoods.

My bubble has burst, far, far more of us voted emotionally, fearing a Black woman more than a misogynistic, homophobic, racist white man who idolizes dictatorships of the present and past. 

I still can’t understand how a Black or Latino could vote for Trump, I underestimated deep biases, some males simply can’t imagine our nation led by women.

Can the Democrats rebuild, stop blaming Harris and look inside of themselves? 

The New York State Board of Regents emphasizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Culturally Relevant Sustaining Education, and in their major revision of graduation requirements gives scant notice to epidemic chronic absenteeism.  Shouldn’t getting kids in seats every school day be at the top of the agenda? Aren’t the reasons for chronic absenteeism at the core of education problems?

The Trump administration will dramatically reduce education funding and, as much as possible, move toward vouchers: will parents object? Or. welcome choice? Can the traditional coalition of the middle class, the working class, liberals and labor reconnect?

Can the fractures be mended?

Some of my favorite bloggers, columnists and substackers continue to rail against Trump with well-written comments, the problem: preaching to the choir is futile, its the one’s not in church we have to reach.

How do we win back the traditional coalition?  Or, can we?

The majority of voters pulled the Trump lever, too many 2020 Democratic voters stayed home, trashing Trump to the choir feels good, and, is not productive.

We have to begin planning for 2026 midterms now, and, begin rebuilding the coalition now, tempus fugit.