Trump Loses (and Dems Win) Again

Donald Trump was arrested and once again the rest of his party paid the price

Tuesday was the perfect metaphor for the Republican Party in the Trump era. The former President and current frontrunner for the GOP nomination was arrested, fingerprinted, and arraigned like a common criminal. He endured the ignominy with false bravado and the full support of his party and its media apparatus. Later that night, Trump’s party lost yet another winnable election.

Reuters Pictures @reuterspictures

Donald Trump during his arraignment. Courtroom sketch by 🎨 Jane Rosenberg

With respect to a couple of governors’ races happening later this year, the campaign for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court was the most important election of 2023. Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s victory over MAGA Republican Dan Kelly shifts the ideological balance of the court with dramatic implications for abortion rights, voting rights, and the integrity of the 2024 election. Wisconsin is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation and a new Supreme Court could re-examine the maps to benefit democracy.

This is a huge win for Democrats. There are no two ways about it. Last night’s victory offers a good snapshot of this moment and provides applicable lessons going forward.

What the Win Says About 2024

Because they happen in a vacuum, elections like this one tend to be over-analyzed with broad conclusions about the state of politics. We should all bring a measure of humility to the analysis of a (relatively) low-turnout election nearly 18 months from the presidential election. This is particularly true in Wisconsin.