“Vote like I’m on the ballot” is what our president kept saying. President Donald Trump tried to fire up his base and drive turnout, but his message reached a broader audience. Those outside the MAGA universe answered and filled out their ballots with his record front and center. Democrats , eager to rebound from their disastrous 2024 election, were motivated to do more than protest. They wanted to vote. While some may have sat out the election two years ago, they came back in full force this time.  Republicans have been hunkered down, some even embarrassed, as they witnessed a generational opportunity to lead with integrity squandered and responded by staying home on Election Day.  And the Trump coalition of Latinos, blacks, union workers and youth swung back to their traditional voting patterns to let Trump know he went too far with immigration enforcement, DEI rollbacks, and the economy.  Yes, there has been good in Trump’s first two years, like reducing prescription drug costs, access to in vitro fertilization, reducing income taxes for workers, and cutting red tape for infrastructure and domestic energy. Still, his preoccupation with putting his name on stuff, his D.C. building programs, mismanagement of the war with Iran, and, most importantly, his style of leadership have been resoundingly repudiated.  A group of excellent candidates has paid the price for his poor performance and, worst of all, some radical elected officials will now go to Washington, the Statehouse, and local offices.   Among the biggest losers of the 2026 election is someone who wasn’t on the ballot at all, and did not ask to be: Vice President J.D. Vance. Once a promising rising star in the Republican Party, any lingering chance of him being elected president might have gone up in a big blue puff of smoke. In politics, as in sports, we take losses as an opportunity to reflect and assess. Republicans should take a good look in the mirror because they were not defeated by a Democratic Party at the height of its popularity. Most recent polls show a 57% unfavorable rating for the Dems. The Republicans beat themselves. Full stop! Democrats will almost certainly interpret this resounding victory as a mandate to govern with impunity. While their comfortable majority will allow the incoming speaker to sideline his party’s socialist fringe, the temptation for the left to overreach will be immense. Rather than recognizing this election for what it was, a rejection of Republican dysfunction, they will inevitably misinterpret it as a green light to push too far. The optimist in me recognizes the long history of exceptional legislation that resulted from divided government: the Social Security Reform Act of 1983, Tax Reform Act of 1986, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (welfare reform) all were a result of deeply divided government coming together for the benefit of all.  So far, it appears that any expectation that either side will seek common ground looks bleak. Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat who is expected to head the House Oversight Committee, quickly told Trump and Republicans to “lawyer up.”  The administration is losing a pragmatic, behind-the-scenes confidante who could always get through to the president in Susie Wiles. In her place is a capable and long-time Trump ally, Stephen Miller. Normally, elevating the deputy would be a no-brainer, but Mr. Miller is the architect of the aggressive deportation program.  Miller’s appointment as chief of staff has the appearance of setting up the White House to fight rather than lawyering up. Mr. Miller will be tasked with working with Congress, but that is unlikely. Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not mince words, saying: “Stephen Miller is a stone-cold racist. His track record speaks for itself. And I’ve got zero interest in working with that kind of individual.” In the end, Americans took President Trump’s advice to “Vote like I’m on the ballot” literally. They looked at the state of our politics, weighed the record of the last two years, and issued a firm rebuke. Sadly, rather than a divided government coming together to pass meaningful legislation, it appears we are destined for two years of warfare, endless investigations, and partisan gridlock. If Republicans are to salvage their future before 2028, it is time for the party to stand up, take charge, listen to the country, and demand a change of course. Ari Ioannides, chair of the Summit County Republicans, is a recovering tech entrepreneur, founder of BootUP PD, and serves on local government and nonprofit boards. He offers a conservative perspective on local politics. He can be reached at [email protected]. The post The Porcupine Quill: Voters took president at his word; now what? appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less