Why The Coming Midterm Elections Are More Important Than Ever

Think About A Dress Rehearsal For A Coup

Our Vocabulary Is Changing, As Is Our Reality

People tend to be a little loose in the definition of political and social terms, especially when in a fight over an important issue. Trump and friends are quick to call anyone they disagree with communists. In an earlier time, some leftists and progressives were quick to call opponents reactionaries or fascists. It is easy to go overboard in describing others.

But in following the text of Project 2025, statements from throughout the Trump administration, and watching what actions are being taken – with the full support of far too many Republican legislators and officials – times have changed. We really are dealing with would-be fascists and facing the genuine prospect of a coup. More than a few people I have spoken with of late have raised the question as to whether a coup is a real possibility now. The answer is, yes – the possibility is quite real, and close in.

This Is Not Completely New

Trump tried a coup last time he lost an election, starting with declaring victory within hours of polls closing, then harassing local officials and voting volunteers, and culminating with a violent insurrection attempt on January 6, 2021. Anyone who describes those events as anything other than an attempt to steal an election are not worthy of your time or respect.

The difference this time is that Trump has consolidated his power throughout the Republican party at most levels and faces few if any honest institutional gate keepers anywhere. Just look at the FBI, ICE, and the Department of Justice to see how bad the lack of integrity is today.

The Midterms Are Important For An Old Reason

Midterm elections are always important, even though turnout is often abysmal.  They offer the country a chance to pass judgement on an administration at the halfway point in its tenure. That often does not bode well for the party in the White House – people usually want some things to be better, some things to change, and so taking a hit as the party in power often happens.

This time around, of course, that observation is especially true. The country at large disagrees mightily with darn year everything the Republicans have done and are doing. Having over 7 million people turn out on a single day in almost 3,000 locations is not a small indicator of normal grumpiness. If the Democrats can turn this into votes to recapture at least one house of Congress, much of the hemorrhaging of democracy can be slowed, if not stopped.

The Midterms Are Especially Important For A New Reason

Trump and Company have made it abundantly clear that they plan to ensure victory in 2026, using all means at their disposal, legitimate or and not. The national push to jerrymander even more is as clear a signal as one could imagine. So too the plan to field “election monitors” in key locations, seeking to intimidate voters and volunteers, and to seed doubt on outcomes Republicans do not like. Trying to use force with ICE and the National Guard in cities is yet another prefatory step to control the country for all the wrong reasons.

In part, what is being prepared is an effort to retain election victories, by hook or by crook, but more importantly, this will be a dress rehearsal for seizing control at or before the next national elections – a full blown coup. What happens in 2026 will be a dress rehearsal and a test run.

What Is The History of Successful Defeat of Coups?

There is some encouragement in history. Attempted coups and actual coups have been forestalled or defeated repeatedly in history, frequently by nonviolent means. The key element generally has been citizen awareness of what was happening, matched with a sustained commitment to not surrender to fear or intimidation. When history called, enough people stand up to shape the outcome.

But there is nothing easy or automatic, or even likely, for such a promising outcome. It happens only when enough people do the right thing. It often is an interesting mix of common people coming together and a handful of real leaders ready to serve.

Focus On Who, What?

It seems to me that while it makes perfect sense to focus to some degree on Trump himself, it is at least equally important to focus on, and to call out by name, all those in government, parties, and legislators – at all levels – who facilitated the rot now set upon us.

Only by insisting on such by name accountability can the country rid itself of those who allowed, and often encouraged, what is happening to us now. Failure to clean the ranks would almost ensure creeping failure in restoring democracy.

Lastly, we need to be clear and articulate not only about who and what we stand against, but who and what we stand for. People need to know what the alternative is that they can select.

Two Excellent Reads To Get Yourself Ready And Engaged

 We all find ourselves asking what we can do, individually and collectively. A lot of good advice is out there. I would like to commend two of them to you today. Both are short, easy reads, both offer solid recommendations.

A friend referred this one to me a few days ago (Thanks, Joanne), a short list of 10 things to look out for in a coup and how to meet them. It reads well, but I had never heard of the group, so a little research was in order. Turns out this is a group based in Australia, of all places, addressing threats to democracy everywhere. I was impressed enough to subscribe to their newsletter and to start reading through some of their background material. https://commonslibrary.org/10-things-you-need-to-know-to-stop-a-coup/

The second list of 10 things for a citizen to consider comes from the blog The Conversation, a source I have long utilized with appreciation and confidence for good work and honest analysis.
https://theconversation.com/10-effective-things-citizens-can-do-to-make-change-in-addition-to-attending-a-protest-266432

Your Turn

What we worry about, fear, reject will not just go away. Leaders need to step up, but so do the rest of us. Pick some actions for yourself, steel yourself for some tough days over a longer period than any would want, and join hands with others. We don’t get a do-over on this one. Get it right the first time or pay the price, America.

Good luck to us all.

Bill Clontz

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