By Ben Jenkins, Newswire Intern

Last week’s elections delivered a clear message to all Americans — running in opposition of Donald Trump is a winning formula.

A blue wave swept across the United States, which was a much needed jolt for the Democratic Party. They saw wins in major mayoral elections, governor races, and passed crucial bills, a vital change of pace for the Democrats. After a year marked by one of, if not the most disappointing presidential campaigns of all time, a breath of life was much needed.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger became the first female Gov. elect in Virginia and gave the blueprint for how to take down MAGA. She ran on a clear message: moderation and competence. There was nothing spectacular about the rhetoric, simply bringing a calm to the storm that was American politics is enough to win major races.

In New Jersey, Democratic Gov. elect Mikie Sherrill saw a similar path to victory. Sherill opposed MAGA and won in decisive fashion. Americans are starting to show that they prefer moderate practical leadership over harsh far right rhetoric.

In Cincinnati, Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval cruised to reelection against Corey Bowman, half brother of Vice President JD Vance. Although it was never much of a race, Pureval showed once again that opposing a MAGA candidate can take you a long way.

The most interesting result of the night came from New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, an immigrant, Muslim and democratic-socialist won by nine points. Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest in over a century.

Mamdani is almost everything MAGA is against. He wants to tax the rich, help immigrants and push for more social equity. The mayor-elect is about as far left as they come and New York City, under his leadership, will be a great test for a more democratic socialist government.

One of the many benefits of having smaller divisions of government is that it allows for places to act, as former Associate Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis would describe them, as “laborites of democracy.” An economic system that leans more on the distribution of wealth could work, but before we take a step away from capitalism there needs to be proof of concept.

Mamdani’s win is fantastic for the Democrats, a changing of guard for the party. A much needed change from the older generation to the younger generation. Although this win could prove to be monumental for the future of the American government, it can not be a distraction for the Democratic Party.

Mamdani and policies like the ones he ran on are simply too far left to be a winning formula in most of the United States. Many Democrats want to push the United States as far left as possible. That should not be the goal for the party as of right now.

The goal is to beat MAGA and bring American politics back to a civil system. Once there is order restored in the government, further left policies can become a priority.

Winning means balance and a fight against the chaos that Trump has brought to America. Bring the United States back towards an orderly government, then earn the right to push for further left policies.