Photo by Crawford Jolly

There are—rare—moments when human history accelerates to the point of making one’s head spin. And that is exactly what is happening in this memorable fall of 2026, which is seeing tyrants tremble and even fall under the simultaneous onslaught of rebelling peoples in a dozen countries, mainly in Europe but also beyond. It is as if we were witnessing a replay of the distant “Spring of Nations” of 1848, with the (significant) difference that today, the epicenter of these popular upheavals lies across the Atlantic, in the United States of America.

So let’s talk about the United States and the historic upheaval represented by the results of its long-awaited midterm elections. All things considered, if there is one thing that comes as a surprise, it is not so much the Republicans’ crushing defeat (1) but rather the scale of the triumph of Trumpism’s opponents. Indeed, the polls suggested that a Democrat might even win in Kansas after 94 years (!), but virtually no one—except the candidate himself—believed that an African American would be elected in Mississippi after… 150 years—a century and a half! So, what happened to bring about such a historic upheaval?

The answer to this question—which is crucial for the course of future events—is provided by CNN’s highly reliable and credible exit poll. The first thing this poll reveals is that the majority of those who voted for Democratic candidates do not identify as… Democrats. In fact, 35% of them identify as “independents,” and 23% as “Democratic Socialists (DSA).” Thus, 58% of Democratic voters do not support the Democratic Party and vote for it solely because they want to get rid of Trump’s Republicans! That being said, the question that arises is what their main motivation is when they adopt such a political stance. The results of the CNN poll categorically contradict everything that has been said and written on this issue: the top motivation (47%) for Democratic voters is “democracy,” far ahead of the second, which is “the economy” (37%).

In short, Democratic voters were primarily motivated to vote the way they did not by their—very real—material concerns regarding the failures of Trump’s economic policies, but rather by their desire to defend everything that “democracy” stands for—such as democratic and social rights and freedoms—which are directly threatened by Trump and his anti-democratic, fascist-like regime! It goes without saying that such motivation reveals a political consciousness far more advanced than one that is limited to reacting—even violently—to the material problems of daily life.

So, it is no coincidence that this CNN poll confirms what so many others have observed previously: namely, that an ever-growing number of American citizens reject capitalism and declare themselves in favor of “socialism,” even if they do so in a confused and muddled way. This, in turn, explains the significant success of “socialist,” radical progressive, and left-wing candidates in the midterm elections. As a result, the DSA helped elect eight of its members to the House of Representatives, to which we should probably add at least six other elected officials whose campaigns were actively supported by the DSA.

However, although it is the largest left-wing organization in the country, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is far from organizing or representing all socialists, progressives, and other leftists, both in society and in the U.S. Congress. Moreover, given the profound social and political crisis, we can expect Americans—and young Americans in particular—to become radicalized en masse, thereby eventually swelling the ranks of those who identify as “socialists” and even “revolutionaries.”

However, nothing happens automatically, and much will depend on what the American left—and especially the DSA leadership and Zohran Mamdani himself—does. Faced with a Trump who is doing everything he can to persuade even the most naive or “moderate” people that he is preparing to fight to the death to stay in power, the American left has only one choice: to harbor no illusions whatsoever about Trump’s intentions, and to take advantage of the favorable situation created by the midterm election results to go on the offensive and, as quickly as possible, meet the popular demand that Trump and his cronies be held accountable for their crimes.

Therefore, supporting—as Mamdani suggests—the candidacy of avowed conservatives and conciliators like Jeffries and Schumer for the leadership of the Democratic Party is more than a mistake; it is outright suicide for the American radical left. For Jeffries and Schumer feign ignorance of what it means to promote the racist, white supremacist Stephen Miller—a Goebbels clone—to a sort of “prime minister” role, even though this speaks volumes about Trump’s determination to sow chaos at home and around the world by relying on every last neo-Nazi and white supremacist thug out there.

On the other hand, by responding immediately to the provocations of Trump and his supporters through the mobilisation of the masses, and by preparing the public to resist Trump’s repressive, if not dictatorial, tendencies, the Left – and more specifically the Socialist Democrats – will not only be able to thwart Trump’s anti-democratic plans and defend the people, but also force the Democratic Party establishment – which has no desire to mobilise the working classes and young people – into a corner. And in doing so, the radical left will be able to take the lead in the popular resistance, gain prestige and, last but not least, inspire and rally around it all those who wish to fight against Trumpism and its anti-democratic and coup-mongering plans.

The current historical moment could be described as the ideal opportunity for the American radical left to take centre stage in the massive class struggle that has just begun. Faced with a reactionary camp in disarray, a divided Republican Party on the hunt for scapegoats, and a weakened, diminished and discredited Trump, the radical left must show boldness and determination, whilst always bearing in mind that the oppressed throughout the world have their eyes fixed upon it…

Notes

1. See our previous articleFrom France to the United States and throughout Europe: Now is the time to coordinate radical social movements! : https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/10/22/from-france-across-europe-to-the-united-states-now-is-the-time-to-coordinate-radical-social-movements/

2. New polls reveal how Democrats rode a blue wave to victory: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/11/06/politics/video/midterm-election-results-behind-the-scenes-vod