There’s no way to put a positive spin on the devastating impact of DJT’s election. This is a dark time for our nation, and everyone has a right to grieve and do what they need to do to take care of themselves.
At the same time, we will not let the darkness dampen our gratitude or our ability to acknowledge the good things that we accomplished together here at HCDP.
First of all, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to all our candidates! We asked for people to run for us and you accepted the challenge. You—and your families—willingly put yourselves in the arena, giving your time and resources and often stretching out of your comfort zone, all for the good of our community rather than personal gain. Nobody could have worked harder or more honorably.
To Gina Baxter, Lyndsey Simpson, and Emily Whitmire, many, many congratulations! Your election to the Hendersonville City Councill and Flat Rock Town Councill is a much-needed bright spot that gladdens our hearts. We know you will accomplish great things and encourage others to get involved and make a difference.
And to our volunteers and supporters, we are honored to have been on this journey with you. Your enthusiasm and generosity were inspiring, and there was joy in doing the work of democracy together. We can’t thank you enough.
To everyone who played a role, we want to emphasize that your contributions accomplished more than you may think. In the 2024 election, Henderson County had the biggest shift toward Democrats in the whole state, an achievement that has received widespread recognition. In the governor’s race, Henderson County even went blue, which is wonderfully gratifying and could be a sign of things to come. At the state level, North Carolina Democrats did well on November 5. We elected a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction. And we broke the GOP supermajority.
Some of the statewide races were close and every vote that we turned out here in Henderson County made a difference. You helped elect a capable and compassionate governor who can veto harmful legislation here at home and work with other Democratic governors to mitigate harm from the DJT administration. You made sure the person in charge of enforcing the law has a strong moral compass and the person heading up our schools believes in public education.
From our candidates who inspired voters to our volunteers who did the work to our donors who paid for it all, each of you made a difference. Thank you.
We Are Not Playing Their Game
Right now, the radical right is counting on us to feel defeated and hopeless, but we are not playing their game. Guardrails still exist. The real nature of the MAGA movement can no longer hide in shadows. Opportunities—probably in unexpected places—will appear.
We will never regret working for what is right, and we will continue to fight for a brighter, fairer future for all our communities.
When you are ready, we invite you to join us once again.