Maria Shriver

One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was merely OK, in other states it was downright amazing, and in no state was it catastrophic. There was a genuine sense of optimism on our team: our people were showing up. So, I asked the smartest data guy I know, does that mean we're going to shock the world? "No," he told me. "We might do better than the polls suggest. But the data is telling us that a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters are pissed and planning to vote for the other guys. Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us." Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026. There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect told me that our economic messaging wasn’t sharp enough down the stretch. I’m sure that’s true. But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone. Another pollster—one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we’d lose the generic ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. He asked those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers, accounting for nearly all of the responses were: 1) End the war 2) Focus on cost of living/inflation 3) Put America First 4) Change our relationship to Israel Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. (She’s also a great person.) In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you. The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night. If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there. I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: you’re right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.

Bad policy, bad character make bad politics: erratic tariffs, impulsive Iran war, blanket pardons, apparent corruption, weaponized justice, ICE brutality, mountainous deficits, hiding Epstein, abandoning allies and coddling enemies. Hoping for a course correction, for the country and for my party.

.@AnaNavarro: “I’m really very proud of the American people because we showed that we don’t storm the Capitol, we storm the polls.”

Women Soul of the Nation Georgia voters elected eight Black women to help lead our state. Their work will touch our lives every day, from how we educate our children and protect voting rights to what families pay to keep the lights on. I’m celebrating these women and the people who organized, registered voters and showed up to make these victories possible. Congratulations to Georgia’s newly elected leaders: Keisha Lance Bottoms, governor Tanya Miller, attorney general Penny Brown Reynolds, secretary of state Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold, commissioner of agriculture Nikki Porcher, commissioner of labor Lydia Powell, state school superintendent Keisha Sean Waites, insurance commissioner Shelia Edwards, Public Service Commission, District 5 I pray that you use the power entrusted to you to protect people’s rights, make their lives better and serve every Georgian with dignity and care. #WomenSoulOfTheNation #GeorgiaHistory #BlackWomenLead #PublicService

Democratic Governors across the country are getting shit done and standing up to the chaos, cruelty, and corruption every day — and after last night’s historic victories, we're now going to have a lot more joining our ranks. I’ll be proud to work with each of them to lower costs, protect freedom, and continue to GSD. The @DemGovs fight to win — and that's exactly what we did last night. Special thanks to @AndyBeshearKY, @GretchenWhitmer, and @Megmeedra for their work to elect Democratic Governors all across the country! 🇺🇸

Gina Hinojosa met with Beto O’Rourke before running. "Not one person can win Texas," he told her. "It has to be two." She and Talarico ran as a ticket, each appealing to different areas and demographics. Together, they changed what’s possible in Texas. theatlantic.com/politics/202…

.@JamesTalarico: We didn’t win by alienating our neighbors, or by shaming our neighbors, or by ridiculing our neighbors. We embodied a new kind of politics. A politics rooted in a deep love — for our state, for our country, and for all of our neighbors. My faith teaches me that love is the strongest force in the universe. Love is not passive. Love is not neutral. Love is not weak. Love requires that we stand between the bullies and the bullied. Love requires that we look evil in the eye and not blink. Love can heal what’s broken in America.

BREAKING: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia's governor race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/3V4H9cE

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper defeats former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the contest for North Carolina’s open Senate seat, NBC News projects. nbcnews.com/politics/2026-el…

A year and a half ago I stood before you and promised that if you sent me to the United States Senate, I would fight tooth and nail for you. I promised that I would bring a bold new vision to Washington and not give Donald Trump an inch.  Well, you held up your end of the bargain, and now I’m ready to hold up mine. I am incredibly proud to stand before you today as the next U.S. Senator from the great state of Illinois.  This moment is about more than any one of us. It’s a mandate for change, for bold new leadership, and to put our country back on the path towards progress and prosperity. You’ve entrusted me with a monumental responsibility, and I don’t take it lightly. But I’m ready.  Let’s get to work.

Senator Ossoff has worked hard delivering for the people of Georgia in the Senate, and voters know it. Congratulations on your victory, Senator!

BREAKING: Democrat Josh Shapiro wins Pennsylvania's governor race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4iGrKr0

Time's up, MAGA. This nightmare ends on Tuesday.