Reflections on Election Day: A Post-Trump Reality
Cynthia Shaw, a dedicated volunteer at a polling place in the Detroit suburbs, went to bed on Election Day harboring a glimmer of hope that Vice President Kamala Harris might secure victory. However, by Wednesday morning, that hope had evaporated, leaving her feeling despondent and with a pounding headache. “It feels so much more definitive this time,” remarked Ms. Shaw, 65, as she processed Donald J. Trump’s return to the presidency.
Following Trump’s initial victory in 2016, a surge of activism swept across the nation. Many Americans who opposed his policies transformed their frustration into action, using platforms like Facebook to organize marches, participate in protests, and establish new organizations aimed at recruiting progressive candidates for office. Now, with Trump poised to lead a still-divided nation that has decisively voted in his favor once again, many of these activists find themselves grappling with a complex mix of emotions. They question whether they can muster the energy and resolve to engage in the fight once more, or if they might even consider stepping back altogether.
“So many of us are so exhausted,” Ms. Shaw, a lifelong Democrat who has been a volunteer in every presidential election since 1992, expressed with a heavy heart. “I don’t mean to sound overly pessimistic, but that’s the reality we are facing today.”
In Arvada, Colorado, Liz Folkestad, 43, allowed herself to linger in bed longer than usual on Wednesday morning, contemplating the idea of escape from the weight of current events. The emotional toll of the election results has left many feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward.
The phenomenon of collective activism was notably visible at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., in 2017, where thousands gathered to voice their dissent. As the nation reflects on these past events and looks toward the future, the resilience of the American spirit will undoubtedly be tested once more.
