‘We have to show what good governance looks like’: how organizers will hold new electeds accountable

After Tuesday's election, experts suggest that individuals must establish a Wednesday agenda to hold newly elected officials accountable. Democratic voters, who were fatigued and fearful following Donald Trump's 2024 presidential win, displayed a shift in sentiment over the subsequent two years. This shift culminated in a generational change at the ballot box, with Democrats gaining control of five governorships and a significant majority in both the House and Senate.

Voter anger was fuelled by rising living costs, the war in Iran, immigration agents present in their communities, and increasing infrastructure development. However, anger alone was insufficient to swell turnout; activists had to invest years in coalition building, local campaigning, and movement infrastructure development to transform frustration into organized action and, ultimately, votes.

These same activists are now determining the course of action moving forward. Rather than focusing on any particular party or politician, they emphasize the necessity of diversifying tactics, setting clear demands, putting pressure on newly elected officials, and continued community-based networks. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an African American studies professor at Princeton University, notes that elections alone do not achieve what people desire; instead, they set the stage for potential change.

The national No Kings protests emerged as a prominent manifestation of these sentiments. A coalition comprised of dozens of groups and partner organizations, No Kings was intentionally leaderless and decentralized, providing a platform for the numerous grievances that millions of individuals wished to express, ranging from frustration over gas prices and federal workforce reductions to war-related anger.

The marches served as an entry point for those new to activism. Post-midterms, No Kings is regrouping, emphasizing that the work of safeguarding democracy extends beyond any single election.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor underscores that the work of protecting democracy doesn't begin or end with any single election. Jamila Raqib, executive director of the Albert Einstein Institution, adds that while people are more engaged than ever, their actions often fall short in achieving concrete objectives. Movements must adapt their tactics to counter authoritarian governments, which increasingly employ "smart repression" – selective arrests, legal harassment, surveillance, disinformation, funding restrictions, and job losses – to wear down movements that may eventually disperse due to personal obligations.

To counter smart repression, movements should strategize to influence key government pillars, including courts, businesses, media, and religious institutions. Preparing for such repression involves treating digital security as a fundamental organizing skill, ensuring the arrest of key leaders, and preparing successors before crackdowns occur.

Minnesota's January 2025 general strike, sit-ins at corporate headquarters, and employer pressure exemplify how labor, faith, and community organizing can effectively weaken government actions. This approach, trained through immigrant rights groups and community defense organizations, highlights the importance of treating digital security as an essential organizing skill, anticipating arrests, and preparing successors before crackdowns occur.