Under the baobab: Americans took their voices to the voting booth on Election Day
“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” -Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of war-torn England.
Last week millions of “No Kings” protesters marched with friends and neighbors, particularly young citizens, to voting booths across the nation. Using our basic tool of democracy, the resistance moved up to the next level — they voted. In a rebuff to the policies of the present administration, Democrats won all the major contests in the nation.
His opponent had been endorsed by the President of the United States, but Zohran Mamdani became the first Muslim elected mayor of New York City. Mikie Sherrill was elected governor of New Jersey — the first Democratic woman to be so honored. Abigail Spanberger became the first woman to be elected governor of Virginia. Mary Sheffield became the first woman elected mayor of Detroit. Minnesota state Rep. Kaohly Her was projected to win the St. Paul mayoral election. She will be the first woman and first Asian American to serve as mayor.
California voters overwhelmingly voted “yes” to Proposition 50, which will allow state legislators to redistrict before the midterm elections, countering the GOP led gerrymandering in other states. By adding a half dozen new Democrats, it may flip control of the House of Representatives. Those who supported Prop 50 in California cited opposition to the Trump administration as their reason.
In further setbacks to the administration policies, a federal judge ordered the government to deliver full SNAP payments to states immediately. U.S. District Judge John McConnell said the lapsing of food stamps benefits last weekend was a “problem that could have and should have been avoided.”
The Supreme Court heard arguments as to the legal standing of presidentially imposed tariffs. The Constitution reserves the authority to tax to the Congress. “You want to say tariffs are not taxes,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, “but that’s exactly what they are.” Even some conservatives on the bench had issues. Chief Justice Roberts said, “This vehicle is the imposition of taxes on Americans, and that has always been a core power of Congress.”
In Pennsylvania, voters supported the retention of judges by a two-thirds majority despite the millions of dollars raised to oppose the effort. Focusing her campaign on housing affordability, domestic violence and combating teen suicide, Democrat Erica Deuso in Downington was elected Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor. Our hard-working State College mayor, Ezra Nanes, ran and won unopposed.
Many of our neighbors are suffering through food deprivation inflicted on them by the government shutdown. The government has failed, but people are looking out for each other. Unemployed and underemployed workers survive with dignity with the help of their neighbors.
Recently, the Center for the Performing Arts help spread Joy with “Can We Dance Here?” by Soles of Duende, a multicultural, all-female trio based in the rhythms of tap, flamenco, and kathak classical Indian dance featuring Amanda Castro, Arielle Rosales and Brinda Guha.
Congrats also to the Penn State men’s and women’s basketball teams for their season opener wins.
We are also proud of Penn State President Bendapudi’s commitment not to sign the Trump administration’s controversial compact for higher education if asked to do so. The “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” would give more favorable access to federal funding in exchange for agreeing to: eliminate any consideration of race, gender and other demographic factors in admissions and hiring; adopting a position of “institutional neutrality” on societal and political events; requiring schools to accept the government’s definition of gender and apply it to campus bathrooms, locker rooms and women’s sports teams; abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, against conservative ideas; and prohibiting demonstrations that disrupt classes or libraries or heckle other students. PSU will not surrender our dignity for thirty pieces of silver.
Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.