"In the afterglow of electoral triumph, hope springs renewed for Democrats confined to the frustrating impotence of political opposition. Boosted by last week's electoral wins in New York City, Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere, as well as California's affirmation of Proposition 50 allowing for congressional redistricting, party members suddenly feel able to dream that future elections may herald an escape route from the Donald Trump era."
"Yet the experiences of other countries that have grappled with the rise of rightwing authoritarian or populist movements provide a cautionary antidote to such optimism. It suggests that even the rosiest Democratic scenario one that would see the party retake control of (at least) the House of Representatives in next year's midterms, and win the White House in 2028 might not be enough to permanently break the feverish intensity of Trump's Maga movement."
"Defeated rightwing populists are capable of mounting electoral comebacks after suffering setbacks at the polls as Trump himself proved by winning the 2024 presidential election after his defeat to Joe Biden four years had lulled many commentators into mistakenly writing him off. Three recent elections in east-central Europe attest to the electoral resilience of populist forces, with politicians or parties that had previously been voted out following mass protests returning to office."
Democratic gains in recent local and state contests and California's Proposition 50 have generated renewed optimism about escaping the Trump era. International examples caution that electoral wins may not permanently dislodge rightwing populist movements. Rightwing populists often mount comebacks after electoral setbacks, as shown by Donald Trump's 2024 return and recent returns across east-central Europe. In the Czech Republic, Andrej Babis's ANO finished as the largest bloc and appears poised to form a coalition with far-right and anti-environment groups, potentially returning Babis to the premiership after prior scandals and mass protests.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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