Americans are still reeling from the shocking 2026 Midterm Election results. With history against the ruling party, Democrats were optimistic and Republicans were stoic. Most expected Democrats to gain the House but thought Republicans would likely retain the Senate, so few were prepared for the blue tsunami that swept the nation and even swamped more than a few red states. Democrats seized such large majorities in both houses; it’s a generational shift in congressional power. Democrats won by a stunning magnitude, flipped an awful lot of red districts and states, and returns were oddly uniform across the states which have aroused some suspicion, but setting that aside, Democrats won big and Republicans lost big.

With politicians, press, and pundits scrambling to understand and explain what happened, everyone is pointing fingers, but there will be plenty of blame to go around. President Trump campaigned tirelessly, but it seemed he only campaigned to his supporters and didn’t reach out to swing voters like 2024. Republicans fielded flawed and mediocre candidates and ran lackluster campaigns letting Trump do all the heavy lifting. Republican messaging was clearly inadequate because Trump has brought down prices for prescription drugs and some groceries and laid the groundwork for a sound economy that is steadily growing, but voters didn’t know it.

All that said, the cost of living is still way too high. Inflation is way down, but the effects are not yet palpable to working people. Democrats campaigned vigorously on affordability and Republicans all but dismissed those concerns simply saying it’s being handled. Voters are struggling and to them Democrats were at least listening; moreover, voters feel Republicans failed to deliver. Despite offering no solutions, Democrats benefited immensely from voters apparently wanting to punish Republicans.

Florida weathered the blue wave, and Alabama largely escaped the electoral carnage, but there are distinct warnings from this election that unheeded, Alabama could very well turn blue too in the next election or two.

Democrat enthusiasm and turnout may have been a factor, but demographic shifts loomed large in the results. Alabama Republicans did keep all statewide offices by 10+% except governor, where Tommy Tubberville only won by 4%. The margins seem comfortable, but Alabama’s four largest cities all voted for Democrat Doug Jones – that’s a brewing problem for Republicans.

Only look east to Georgia which now suffers the same fate as Illinois. Illinois outside Cook County is a red state, but Chicago is enormous and overwhelmingly Democrat. Like Illinois cannot overcome Chicago, Georgia can no longer overcome the Democrat stronghold of Atlanta. When the populations of Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery inevitably comprise half the state, Alabama will go blue.

Beyond demographics, the Alabama GOP is stagnant, tolerates mediocrity, and suffers a lack of energy and imagination. It starts at the top. For the past decade, they have acquiesced to a feckless moribund governor that offered no vision or leadership. Aloof and unengaged, Governor Ivey mostly just held the seat while her snarky staff worked in the shadows to protect her cronies and project her pettiness to punish foes. A creature of the bloated corrupt bureaucracy that metastasizes without leadership or oversight, Ivey shrugged off any criticism with some silly folksy quip that didn’t address any real issues.

While Governor Ivey hid from the public without concern for any meaningful oversight, Alabama’s super majority in the legislature grew incredibly disconnected from the electorate and whistled past elections. Incessantly chanting Alabama is a deep red state, Alabama Republicans repeatedly tell voters to not concern themselves because they will keep wily Democrats out of power, so all will be well. However, Alabama Republicans govern like liberal Democrats.

Alabama Republicans are happy to spend every dime they collect and resist tax cuts. Democrats championed no taxes on groceries and overtime while Republicans agonized over the budget rather that rooting out waste. There has been little oversight of our disastrous prison system and despite a new gas tax a few years ago, Alabama roads are still woefully inadequate. Despite incredible funding for mental healthcare, the legislature has little if any curiosity about its manifest failures and shortcomings. When Ivey wanted to neuter the State Board of Veterans Affairs in retribution for defying her wishes, Republicans rolled over. Republicans must be dragged kicking and screaming to support “school choice” because they now collect lots of money from the teachers’ union, the Alabama Education Association.

The point is Alabama Republicans do not engage much less listen to average voters; they dismiss us to do the bidding of big business and special interests or keep a reclusive governor happy. The conservative base sticks with Republicans because they have no where else to go, but they are no longer passionate supporters. Democrats hate them just for being Republicans, but the problem is the growing ranks of independent voters are uncommitted and consider Republicans pronouncements as mere noise.

Therefore, the conservative base is dwindling and independents are indifferent, so as presumably Democrat urban populations grow, Republican majorities will be overcome by their lack of success and vision. Republicans must implement a strategy to engage urban and suburban voters, and more importantly deliver on limiting government and sound fiscally responsible governance. Quite simply, Republicans must become responsive to average working folks and not just the special interests that fill their campaign coffers.

Florida barely withstood the blue onslaught because they registered some 1.5 million more Republicans than Democrats; and they delivered good government that invoked some loyalty. Alabama cannot follow that model until we close our primaries, so Alabama Republicans must pass legislation to close our primaries immediately.

We must register voters by party to protect the integrity of our primaries and to establish the magnitude of any assumed majority. Then county Republican Executive Committees must embark on vigorous voter registration drives so they know exactly who they must turn out to vote.

The bottom line is Republicans must simply do better listening to voters, delivering genuinely conservative governance, and building unassailable voter majorities to counter growing urban voters that will blindly vote Democrat without knowing the candidates or any knowledge of policy platforms. If Republicans do not address this widening demographic disparity, Alabama will inexorably trend blue within just a couple election cycles.

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:2)

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.