Op-Ed-Election Reflection: Analysis of a Blue Tsunami
By State Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter | Commentary | November 10, 2026
Those who think of the so-called Blue Tsunami election (November 3, 2026) as having occurred in a vacuum, undervalue the enormity of this extraordinary accomplishment. Doing so potentially places us in the unenviable position of repeating 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 manifested itself in a resounding repudiation of the direction in which this country is heading. It begs the question: what took so long? Maybe, we needed to go through this extended suffering to make sure the lessons were deeply ingrained.
For the moment, it seems to have worked! However, these lessons come with a caveat: 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!” While we should bask in the glow of this accomplishment, we should not linger in the light of the moment until the aura fades. We must hit the ground running and move forward with strategies that duplicate and replicate what brought us to this point. 2028 began the day after the election!
The view held here is that this was no Democratic Party coalition, but a Diverse Collaborative Coalition that came together because of a shared pain and suffering which was directed toward a common goal: We need deliverance from this ignorance! Our charge is to not only hold on to this Coalition, but to make it flexible enough to adjust to ever evolving socio-political landscapes. We do this by developing leadership models that are designed to meet the needs of all involved; and as the “smoke clears and the 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, 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. These prophets claim the fruit of others’ labor without having sown the seeds that now must be harvested. All in the name of leadership. We do not need to name them here; we all know who “they” are. We do not come to “Bury our Caesar…” we come to seize our berry!
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. So much so that we raise the point that this Tsunami occurred not because of the Democratic Party, but in spite of the Democratic Party! We posit that 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. We are reminded of Howard Dean’s so-called “Fifty States Strategy”. This notion, circa 2010, invoked actively engaging all 50 states in a nation-wide organizing strategy that could build the bottoms up infrastructure needed to coalesce around a common end goal.
The grandchild of this strategy was born in the 90 for 90 “candidate in every race” employed by the Diverse Collaborative Coalition in South Carolina and other states during this election cycle.
It is good to see the importance of significant investments in the South could produce wins for Democrats at all levels, has been discovered. The DNC 13 state Southern Regional Caucus for decades unsuccessfully shared that message with various DNC leadership. A 2015 visit to a Virginia Democratic Party Rural Caucus retreat in Staunton served up an important tool that has finally taken root in this state. This “candidate in every race” strategy espoused there by Dr. Fergie Reid, Sr. was used by the Legislative Democratic Women’s Caucus and ComebackSC during this election cycle.
The Diverse Collaborative Coalition currently in place was uniquely situated to maximize the frustrations of the electorate. This Coalition became united by the state of the economy (now called “affordability”), an unnecessary war, rampant, unchecked corruption, and dismissing cries regarding “pocketbook” and “kitchen table” issues. By galvanizing a mutual connection among those impacted by these concerns, the Diverse Collaborative Coalition was successful in empowering the vote as a tool for building a foundation.
This process happened organically because of the previously mentioned circumstances; however, this did not necessarily predict the Tsunami. It only heightened the frustrations that arose because of the circumstances cited above; this frustration seemed so familiar because we had experienced it before and nothing brought relief.
We put our faith in the leadership we thought would work on behalf of our best interests. Each time we were disappointed! But this time was different. Why?
Because this time, a new leadership model was put into play. 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 in the trenches. Many of these heroes have labored without their contributions acknowledged, but they found satisfaction in the fulfillment of a commitment to service.
But wait, there’s more…! These unsung heroes spoke by mobilizing their collective voices in the form of the Diverse Collaborative Coalition that derives its power from the very sources that are responsible for their condition! Ironically, herein lies the basis for this new leadership model: power generated from below.
Power fueled by energy expended to rise and rescue oneself from an untenable condition. We harnessed that energy and directed it into campaigns that focused on candidates worthy of support; campaigns of candidates who want to serve and not be served; campaigns of candidates who aspire to be servant-leaders. That these candidates were recruited and cultivated from “gardens of grassroots”, makes their arrival more meaningful, and anticipation of their potential quite appealing! Unsung heroes indeed. We celebrate and sing their praises here!
We are not talking about supplanting the Democratic Party as a major player in this scenario, but the Party cannot and should not be the only player, particularly if the Party is not responsive to voices that can make meaningful and significant contributions. Leadership and power can rise from below as well as trickle down from above. This new leadership model must find a happy medium between bottom-to-top action and top-to-bottom activity, with reciprocity as the vehicle driving us toward a common goal of political success.
We must design strategies that take advantage of bottom-up service and trickle-down benevolence. 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, it is how, when and where you spend the money. This should be instructive for Democratic Party “leadership”.
Funding selected candidates and campaigns based on limited or no consultation and input from the “boots on the ground” has proven to be a dated and ineffective leadership model. Additionally, the reliance on “street money” to fund activities that encourage “ballot harvesting” marginalizes voter engagement and deprives voters of a fair election. This system primarily preys on elderly, vulnerable voters. These actions are questionable at best and potentially illegal at worst.
Diverse Collaborative Coalition building embraces a more holistic approach that frames the electoral process within the context of broadening the voter universe. This voter universe should include Voter Empowerment, a framework funded by voter engagement, voter education, voter registration, and voter literacy. The end game is to produce a more informed electorate.
In this last election cycle, a collaborative effort in conjunction with the Democratic Party, coupled with a more informed electorate could have been more successful. Quality candidates matter! The candidacy of Jermaine Johnson in the governor’s race and Sylvia Wright in the Superintendent of Education 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?
This same situation existed in other states as well and needs critical examination by the DNC, DGA, DSCC, and the DCCC. My native state of Florida missed a golden opportunity to elect two quality candidates like David Jolly and Angie Nixon. The limited resources and lack of attention to these races, in my opinion, compromised a chance to change the state. Sadly, an opportunity to impact the direction of that state in such a meaningful way, may not present itself again anytime soon.
Meanwhile, back in South Carolina, I, along with the Legislative Democratic Women’s Caucus, ComebackSC, and the Diversified Collaborative Coalition have charted a path to successful electoral and civic engagement. This leadership model embraces, expands, broadens, and empowers a voting base that has been for some time underappreciated. If we do not build on this moment and continue this direction 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.
I am committed to making this current situation a permanent reality. History informs our decision-making so that we do not repeat mistakes of the past. 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.
Working together means not only sharing the work but giving credit to all who contributed to the success of a job well done!
