The America I Saw From Abdul’s Election Night Victory Party

Hope, proof of what works, a reckoning of what doesn’t, and a road map to success in 2028—should we choose to take it

I was in Detroit, Michigan last night, watching the returns come in with thousands of my fellow Americans. There was a moment when the results began to flow in so quickly that I couldn’t emotionally keep up. None of us could. One unprecedented or unexpected victory after another. People broke down in tears of joy, a catharsis from the dreading fear that maybe we’d already lost our democracy. Tears of gratitude to the candidates who ran, and did so unapologetically for working families, for marginalized communities, for a republic that is worth fighting for. Tears of hope of what is still possible in this country. I saw hope in ways I hadn’t seen since Obama’s 2008 victory. And I do not believe that is an exaggeration—but rather—an indication of what is possible in 2028 if we embrace the tough lessons from this election.

Let’s Address This.

Hope in the Senate, the House, & the States

Hope In The Senate

In the Senate, Democrats now lead by at least 54-46, a Fetterman proof majority. Angie Nixon over performed by historic margins and barely lost in Florida, Jamie Davis lost Louisiana by less than a point, and Everett Wess lost Alabama by single digits—more on all three of these races later. Meanwhile, Scott Colom is leading by a few dozen votes in Mississippi, a state no one thought possible.

And then the blue wave cracked through. James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa flipped Texas blue, Josh Turek flipped Iowa blue, Adam Hamilton flipped Kansas blue, Troy Jackson flipped Maine blue, Dr. Annie Andrews flipped South Carolina blue, Roy Cooper flipped North Carolina blue, Sherrod Brown flipped Ohio blue, Peggy Flanagan became the first Indigenous woman in the US Senate in American history, and Dr. Abdul El Sayed won Michigan by historic margins in a state Trump won twice.

Hope In The House

In the House, Speaker Johnson is done. Democrats now have a minimum of a 228 to 207 majority, and it will likely grow even further as new results roll in. Democrats have flipped an astounding 25 seats so far, which is even more impressive when you consider how gerrymandered several states have become under GOP rule.

The House saw historic victories of Melat Kiros in Colorado, Christopher Rabb in Pennsylvania, Randy Villegas in California, Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, and Dr. Adam Hamawy in New Jersey—among many inspiring new freshman class Congresspersons.

Hope in the Governors Mansions and State Houses

Democrats gained an astounding five Govenor’s mansions nationwide. But it wasn’t just winning the top state office, it was the jaw dropping shift down ballot too. To summarize this landslide shift in American politics on the state level, President of State Futures Gaby Goldstein wrote in her recap of the night:

• 6 new Dem trifectas (PA, WI, MN, AZ, MI, NV)

• 5 GOP trifectas broken (GA, IA, OH, TX, NH)

• 12 total chamber flips (12 D, 0 R - TX House unofficial)

• 6 new Dem supermajorities (CO Senate + House; NV Assembly; NY Senate; VT Senate + House)

• 10 GOP supermajorities broken (OH House; IN House; IA House; KS House; MO Senate + House; NC Senate; FL Senate + House; SC House)

A reminder that it is Governors and State Legislatures who decide Congressional Districts. Under the forthcoming 2030 census, for example, Texas is expected to receive more Congressional seats and may well control 10% of all seat redistricting in Congress. Now, that redistricting will be under the leadership of Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat. Watch my previous interview of Governor-Elect Hinojosa here.

We also saw inspiring wins like the first Black woman governor in American history, Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, and the first Indigenous woman governor in American history, Deb Haaland in New Mexico. Last nights wins not only give Democrats the ability to provide immediate state level change, but also long term federal change in ensuring fairer Congressional districts.

Proof of What Works

Let’s also be clear—last night was not a sophomoric erasure of the significant differences people hold within the Democratic Party, or even within the United States as a whole. Rather, it was an alignment on the principle that whatever our differences, we can come together on this fundamental point that our nation should be led by we the people—not special interest groups, not billionaires, not corporations, and not super PACs.

Dr. Abdul El Sayed won by historic margins while running as an unapologetic working class candidate who opposed money in politics, demanded universal healthcare, and condemned genocidal foreign policy—in a seat we were told only a centrist like Slotkin could win. In 2024, centrist Slotkin beat Mike Rogers by .4% or ~19,000 votes. In 2026, progressive El Sayed beat Mike Rogers by 7.04% or ~341,000 votes.

Numbers don’t lie.

Which brings us to the proof of what works. Actual working family issues that center voters, not corporations, AIPAC, or special interests. Look up and down the ballot and you consistently find that the Democrats who won, or who over performed by the highest margins, are the Democrats who rejected centrism and embraced meaningful progressive values. We were lied to that the Zohran Mamdani model only works in deep blue New York City. What’s the excuse now that we saw Democrats win across the country, up and down the ballot, in rural and red states like Texas, Kansas, and Mississippi—all on virtually the exact same platform as Mamdani, especially on terms of economic justice?

The lie has been exposed. Economic justice works. Anti-genocide works. Pro human rights works. If we expect to continue to win in 2028 and beyond, we must now lean into these values and drive home the point—not shy away. And the first step to doing that is recognizing what will not work.

A Reckoning of What Doesn’t Work

The current Democratic leadership needs to be replaced—starting with Chuck Schumer in the Senate.

First, he failed to meet the moment in red states where extra investment could have flipped three more states for sure. What might have been if Schumer hadn’t let his incompetence, arrogance, and racism prevent him from supporting Angie Nixon in Florida, Jamie Davis lost Louisiana, and Everett Wess in Alabama? Imagine if Scott Colom had another $1M to get his viral “Pick Another Senator” ad on more TV and smart phone screens?

Second, Schumer failed in recruiting candidates. His pick in Florida, Alexander Vindman, lost badly in the primary and then did nothing to help Angie in the general. Yes, despite claims that he fundraised for her, I’ve confirmed he donated zero actual dollars directly to the campaign as he did to dozens of other campaigns with his $8M war chest. Schumer’s pick in Maine, Janet Mills, did not even make it to the primary election. And of course, Schumer’s pick in Michigan, Haley Stevens, lost the primary despite an 11:1 fundraising advantage, and then defected to MAGA fascists.

Third, a Democratic Senate majority led by a known feckless politician like Chuck Schumer is a non-starter. He’s the failed leader that helped get us in this mess, and he will not get us out. We all know the definition of insanity, and its no time to be insane right now. We have an excellent bench in Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, or Chris Murphy. Democratic Senators must read the room and reject Schumer as their next Democratic Majority leader.

The Roadmap to Success in 2028

Look at what worked in rural Michigan, rural Mississippi, and New York City — people funded candidates who speak to voters directly, reject corporate money, demand universal healthcare, and are unapologetic about human rights. Anti-Muslim hate did not win in this election. It was the centerpiece of the Texas GOP strategy, and Texas is now a blue state up and down the ballot, sans one Raphael Edward Cruz. Anti-Muslim hate did not work in Michigan as Abdul won with historic turnout, despite Stevens’ defection to MAGA fascism. Anti-immigrant hate did not win. And while I concede I was not pleased and do not defend the Democratic centrist apathy on trans rights, we can also be clear that when candidates like Abdul were given the “out” to throw trans people under the bus, he refused. And we see the results of those elections.

Winning in 2028 will require candidates unwilling to throw any marginalized community under the bus—and that is a principle none of us should be willing to compromise. The right wages culture wars to distract us from the economic war they’ve imposed upon us. We must reject these culture wars. Whether for President down to city council, we should only nominate those candidates who will fight for all of us, not just those deemed politically convenient while discarding the politically powerless. The lesson of 2026 is not that we held hands and sung songs despite our differences, its that we recognized that our differences are a source of strength and improvement, provided we refuse to tolerate dehumanization of any person. That is how we build the more perfect union we are called to build.

Conclusion

Last night in Detroit, I watched thousands of people cry tears of joy. Those tears were not a finish line. They were a down payment on a more permanent change for good in 2028 and beyond.

We were told that economic justice, human rights, and a refusal to take corporate money could only win in deep blue cities. Then Democrats won on that same platform in Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Kansas, and deep red states across the country. The lie is exposed. We must discard it permanently.

And in its place, we build a future on the foundations of truth and justice. We fund the candidates who fight for all of us. Hold the statehouses that draw the maps. Replace the leaders who won’t back them. And remain relentless and unapologetic in the pursuit of justice. Hope showed up last night. Let’s make it permanent.

I have traveled the country this election cycle to help elect thoughtful human rights focused candidates—and am proud to have helped do so with dozens of candidates. Your support makes this work possible. So if in your capacity, help us build by becoming a paid subscriber at our current discounted rate of $3.60/mo or $30/year.

We have the roadmap to build that more perfect union. Last night proved it again. The only question is whether we have the courage to walk it—and I believe we do.

Qasim Rashid is a human rights attorney, author, and host of Let’s Address This, a platform dedicated to human rights, people-powered politics, and the accountability that corporate media refuses to deliver. Subscribe, share, and let’s remain relentless in our mission for a more perfect Union.

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