Here are my four takeaways from the US midterm elections.
1. Democracy Prevailed
Authoritarianism has been going down in elections all over the world in results too big to be denied or manipulated, and yesterday it was America’s turn.
The United States has turned back the greatest authoritarian threat in our history in such a stunning fashion that even the Denier-in-Chief, Donald J. Trump, signaled quite early on election night that he would accept the results and try to find areas of agreement with the Democrats.
“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he said in an interview with The New York Times at around 10:30pm ET.
I have not read of a Republican candidate or Republican leaders and officials who are denying the results of races that have been called against them. Republicans who lost are conceding. This is profoundly important for the integrity of our democratic system.
Nor have I read anything about violence at polling stations or large efforts at intimidation or election interference. And there were suggestions months ago by Speaker Mike Johnson that House Republicans would not certify the results they didn’t like. Such a scenario is highly unlikely after they have been trounced in historic fashion. Johnson has already announced that he won’t be seeking to retain his leadership position by becoming Minority Leader.
All the gerrymandering, all the (il)legal efforts to rig things failed.
In a nutshell, the elections were free and fair. Our democracy is alive and well. For that I am profoundly grateful.
This is all incredibly good news for climate action.
In the United States, the only way we are going to have the speed and scale of action that’s needed is through the democratic process.
In short, in the US a well-functioning, healthy democracy is absolutely essential to overcoming climate change by creating a just and prosperous sustainability that enhances wellbeing for everyone and everything.
The midterms have made it crystal clear that democracy was the biggest victor. But what we do with our democratic freedoms and political successes — that’s the point.
2. We Must Pursue Tangible Benefits That Improve People’s Lives
As The Climate Movement, our political efforts in the US over the next two years must be focused on tangible benefits that improve people’s lives. This includes addressing both affordability and pollution harmful to human health.
For example, as I said in a post back in May:
It’s well past time to make our outdated electricity system:
keep rates cheap and affordable with clean solar and wind power combined with energy storage;
one that is consumer-friendly, climate-friendly, and kid-friendly by making our air clean and their future bright.
This will involve reforming the electric grid system so that it benefits people instead of powerful state-sanctioned monopolistic utilities.
As I pointed out in another post, one way to do this is through community solar, which can save consumers 20-45% on their electric bills.
Going big on clean energy can even mean joining a worldwide clean free energy revolution, where households get free electricity at peak hours of the day, like is happening in Australia. Free may not be ideal for the big monopolistic utilities, but it sure is good for the pocketbook.
One geographical area that must not be overlooked is rural America, where affordability, freedom, self-reliance, patriotism, neighbors helping neighbors, jobs, economic growth, clean air and water, and a brighter future for children and communities can be had through agrivotaics, renewables leases, microgrids, and more.
But is this focus on affordability and tangible benefits a way to entice support that doesn’t really have anything to do with climate action, our version of sex sells + cute puppies?
Ah, no.
I’ve said from the very beginning that our vision, purpose, and Major Goal is all wrapped up in 18 words: to overcome climate change by creating a just and prosperous sustainability that enhances wellbeing for everyone and everything.
Tangible benefits like cheap, free, clean energy is part of what it means to enhance everyone’s wellbeing. We must pursue such tangible benefits at the local, state, and federal levels. How much can get done at the federal level, given that Trump is still President, is unknown. But important work can happen at the state and local level, as Gov. Abigail Spanberger has demonstrated in Virginia, where more work is still needed.
3. We Need To Elect Pragmatic, Politically Savvy Climate Champions
When we engage in the messy world of politics we must be grounded in our Ten Movement Values, which are: love, justice, beauty, freedom, creativity, wisdom, pragmatism, non-violence, sustainability, and success.
Success will involve pragmatism and creativity guided by wisdom and undergirded by love, justice and beauty.
Early on these values had me declare that we must defeat all Republicans in these midterms given their anti-climate-action actions.
I’ve also argued, based on (1) these values, (2) our vision, purpose, and Major Goal, and (3) the need for speed and scale, that we must defeat all climate wimps and elect climate champions. This is especially the case in Democratic primaries (and in 2028 we must really come to the fore!)
Climate action wasn’t a major discussion point in the 2026 midterms. But my guess is that we’ve elected quite a number of climate champions — in their hearts, at least. It’s our job to support and push them to realize their potential as we simultaneously grow the political support for bold action.
Each of them must be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. Wily, savvy. But pure of heart when it comes to their commitment to climate action. The way for everyone to win is to combine climate action with tangible benefits, as discussed above.
We must push for as much as we can achieve with each opportunity, but not let the perfect become the enemy of the good, recognizing that we are in this for the long haul, and we won’t stop until we have achieved our vision, purpose, and Major Goal.
4. Our Focus Must Be On Growing Our Political Power
The plain, simple truth is this: we don’t have enough political power to achieve all that we need to. That’s why the most important thing we can be doing right now is growing and improving The Climate Movement in the US and around the world. We must strive to have 16 million in the US and 400 million worldwide by 2030. That means we’ve got a lot of work to do!
But for now we don’t have enough weight to throw around. And even if we did we shouldn’t be throwing it around anyway, like arrogant jerks.
Humility, grounded in our recognition that we can’t do this alone and we need one another, is one of our greatest sources of strength. It allows us to see clearly the reality of our climate situation and the reality of our political situation. We will achieve greatness through humility.
Humility doesn’t mean we are doormats. Our values of justice and success won’t countenance it. True humility is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. It is the only way for us.
And, I would add, it is something I hope all those who have been elected will also recognize. Humility is their path to greatness, too.
We Need You
So our democracy has survived the greatest threat to authoritarianism in our history. But for the US to play our part in overcoming climate change, in creating speed and scale and enhanced wellbeing for everyone, The Climate Movement must realize our destiny by becoming the greatest and most long-lasting social change movement in the history of the world.
For that to happen, we need you. Join us!
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