Multiracial solidarity won big last night. We notched wins all over the country in every race, from blocking MAGA in the South in the Virginia governor’s race, to passing Prop 50 in California—a direct response to Trump’s attempt to rig elections—and Zohran Mamdani’s historic win for Mayor of New York City. This broad coalition from Main Street democratic voters to progressive city voters to white working class folks delivered a win for working class people everywhere.
White people showed up last night! White people have been a key pillar of Trump’s base but they voted against MAGA in Virginia, California, and New York City. SURJ has always believed that the key to winning a strong multiracial democracy is understanding that we have a shared interest in pushing through our racism to win the goods which is why 600 SURJ members made 300,000 calls into New York City and Virginia this election season.
Last night’s biggest losers were Trump and MAGA extremism. Less than a year into Trump’s big push to the far right, people said no by wide margins to Gestapo-like ICE tactics, troops in the streets, divisive racial rhetoric and the wall of lies from the Trump Administration.
Last night’s other big losers were racism, Islamophobia, and ginned-up fear of immigrants. Zohran Mamdani faced an enormous campaign of exaggerated racial and religious attacks and voters rejected it in big numbers. For example, a 65-percent super majority of white people under 45 voted for Zohran for New York City Mayor, effectively winning back young white men ages 18-25 from MAGA. Race-baiting and demonizing immigrants showed up in Virginia and for Prop 50, too, but voters said “no thanks.”
We can keep these wins up and block MAGA in the midterm elections in 2026 if we keep organizing white people away from the far right and towards candidates who are fighting for all of us, white, Black, and immigrant, to have a future where we all live in dignity.