Those who think of the so-called blue tsunami election of Nov. 3, 2026, occurred in a vacuum undervalue the enormity of this extraordinary accomplishment.
Let’s not repeat mistakes of the past. The tsunami must be viewed as a symptom of a much larger condition that came to fruition as the collective realization of a common ailment: voices not being listened to and voices not being heard.
The solution in this election manifested itself in a resounding repudiation of the direction in which this country is heading. It begs the question: what took so long? And with that, if we do not use this as a teachable moment, we will have wasted an excellent opportunity. Our response must be: “So what, now what?” We must hit the ground running and move forward with strategies that duplicate what brought us to this point. The presidential election of 2028 began on Nov. 4, 2026.
What happened this year was no Democratic Party coalition, but a Diverse Collaborative Coalition that came together because of shared pain and suffering directed toward a common goal: We need deliverance from ignorance. Now, our charge is to not only hold on to this coalition, but to make it flexible enough to adjust to ever-evolving sociopolitical landscapes. We do this by developing leadership models designed to meet the needs of all involved. As the smoke clears and dust settles, we see the same so-called “leaders” coming out of the woodwork to claim credit for all that occurred.
Leadership is not being in the “right” place at the “right” time and then swooping in to claim ownership of “false profits.” We have all seen these prophets who appear before the cameras after the work is done. They claim the fruit of others’ labor without having sown the seeds that now must be harvested. All in the name of leadership.
Leadership is not raising millions of dollars, lining your own pockets and then losing by double-digit margins. Leadership is not longevity in the guise of seniority designed to extend political familial generational position and power. Leadership is not doing the same thing again, the same way and expecting different outcomes. (Some refer to this as insanity!)
We are not suggesting the Democratic Party did not play a role in this current shakeup, but others made just as significant – and in some instances – more substantive contributions to the success of this great accomplishment. We could have done even better had the current leadership listened to voices other than their own.
A fresh leadership model may be needed to take advantage of the current Diverse Collaborative Coalition framework that fueled this tsunami.
The underpinnings of this model were already in place and in the form of the countless number of unsung heroes who do much of the heavy lifting. Herein lies the basis for this new leadership model: power generated from below. We harnessed that energy and directed it into campaigns that focused on candidates worthy of support.
Let us be clear: we are not only talking about financial resources. More than anything else, this election cycle underscored the notion that money is not the only factor that drives outcomes. Can you say Elon Musk?! It is not how much money you spend, but it is how, when and where you spend the money.
Expanding a Diverse Collaborative Coalition embraces a more holistic approach that frames the electoral process within the context of broadening the voter universe. The end game is to produce a more informed electorate.
In this last election cycle, the collaborative effort in conjunction with the Democratic Party, coupled with a more informed electorate could have been more successful. Quality candidates matter. The candidacies of Jermaine Johnson in the governor’s race and Sylvia Wright in the state superintendent of education’s race, energized the electorate among down-ballot races. The strength of these candidacies increased base voter participation by historic percentages. How many additional seats could have been flipped if more resources had been directed toward those “other” races?
If we do not build on this moment, we will have committed a gross injustice. If this occurs, the so-called blue tsunami will be reduced to just another wave that crested and returned to the vast ocean of political history.
Quality of life in a (small “d”) democratic and diverse society demands that we come together both because of and in spite of our differences. Coming together means working together.
S.C. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, has served in a variety of leadership positions in the S.C. House of Representatives since being first elected in 1992.
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