Jon Ossoff’s merciless strategy paid off. Other Democrats should take notes.

Democrats who won in Tuesday's midterms showed a combative streak that columnist Paul Waldman, writing for MS NOW, argues the party should carry into the new Congress. He contends the scale of the result, the strongest rebuke of a governing party since 1974, signals that voters view President Donald Trump and the Republican Party with contempt.

In Michigan, Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed used his victory speech to needle defeated opponent Mike Rogers about retiring to a Florida home and two yachts, then turned to Vice President JD Vance, who had called him a "psychopath." El-Sayed noted with a smile that Vance must swear him in come January. In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff skipped any mention of Rep. Mike Collins on election night, though he had hit Collins hard during the campaign, including a debate remark about staffers with Nazi ties.

Waldman says plain speech about vile conduct differs from stoking hatred, and that Democrats should not leave the image of strength to Republicans. Senator-elect James Talarico, who branded Ken Paxton the most corrupt politician in America, shows that styles can vary. Waldman says accountability is not petty revenge.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →