Florida’s red wall is cracking, but Democrats are missing their chance

The midterms exposed the vulnerability of Republican dominance in Florida and the potential of progressive candidates whom the Democratic establishment has failed to support. Like many others, when I saw the United States midterm election results on November 4 , I was shocked by the scale of the blue wave that had swept the country, with Democrats and democratic socialists making gains nationwide.

Traditionally conservative states, such as South Carolina and Texas, elected Democratic senators for the first time in decades. Georgia also elected its first Black woman as governor.

In an election awash with money from wealthy donors, including tech bosses, Democrats campaigned on affordability, with progressive candidates unapologetically championing working-class interests and Medicare for All. The results suggested a new kind of coalition politics was possible and amounted to a sweeping repudiation of Trump after nearly two years of turmoil: a violent immigration crackdown, conflicts in the Middle East, and threats to Greenland and Canada.