Post-Tuesday Reflection as a Republican – Mike Biundo
Voters don’t trust politicians, and a lot of them are angry. I sat through enough focus groups this cycle, read enough polls, and listened to enough voters to hear it firsthand. They don’t just vote on policy. They vote on whether their life feels harder than it should, and whether the people in charge seem to get it or are just managing the message.
Too many of our incumbents and the broader party apparatus spent the cycle telling people it was worse under Biden, or that things “aren’t really that bad,” or pointing to no tax on tips and stock market gains. That sounded like bullshit to families who can’t afford a hamburger, a tank of gas, or basic healthcare without worrying about the bill. Energy costs stayed high. Healthcare costs stayed high. And the American Dream of owning a home is being priced out of reach for our kids and grandkids. When the kitchen table math doesn’t match the talking points, people stop listening.
The war involving Iran and the tariff fights handed Democrats some of their cleanest arguments. They didn’t have to invent the anger. They just fed it. And while Republicans held the White House and Congress, we spent too much time pointing fingers and taking recess instead of delivering clear results people could feel. Control without visible progress is a failure.
We’ve also hollowed out the party itself. Real grassroots have atrophied. What we have now are keyboard warriors and paid canvassers. We abandoned the slow work of one-on-one conversations with actual voters. Primaries became less about competing ideas and more about who could secure the right endorsement. Campaigning got replaced by X infighting. We let a class of podcasters and paid pundits set the emotional temperature and the governing priorities. And we spent more energy cataloging why the other side sucks than asking voters what they actually want us to do.
At the bottom of all of this is a simple fact we keep forgetting: people vote on emotion and whether they feel like you are on their side. When the party stands more for the jersey than for a clear set of principles and results, that feeling erodes.
Where we go from here is straightforward. Rebuild the actual grassroots with real conversations, not just digital noise or paid door-knockers. Fight for the people right now on the costs they feel every day so we earn the right to get power back, and when we have it, use it to deliver visible wins on healthcare, energy, and a path to homeownership for the next generation. Stop letting outside voices dictate how we feel, act, and govern. Primaries should test ideas and records, not just endorsement loyalty. And we have to spend more time listening than explaining why the other guys are worse.
Anger and distrust don’t disappear because we control the institutions. They only fade when people see the party focused on their actual problems instead of its own internal scorekeeping.
A Note About Florida – Safe Seats Don’t Campaign for Themselves
Derek Dufresne
Every election produces a fresh collection of excuses: The environment. The turnout. The media. Some are even true.
But Republicans looking back at Florida need to leave room for a less comfortable explanation: campaigns matter, candidates matter, and nobody is entitled to another term because the district looks red on a map. Yes, Florida Republicans faired better than what happened in other states, but it certainly wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Start with Congresswoman Kat Cammack. We’re proud to serve as her general consultants, and proud to see her win reelection with roughly 55 percent of the vote and a double-digit margin over her Democratic opponent. In a difficult political environment, that is a victory worth celebrating. It is also a reminder that even Republican territory requires a serious campaign, which we executed on. And in addition to her being a strong candidate and one of the best messengers in the party, it is one of the major reasons for a solid win.
One of the biggest lessons for members of Congress after last Tuesday is straightforward: stop getting comfortable.
Raise the money. Build the organization. Spend time with constituents who aren’t already wearing your campaign sticker. Give voters a clear explanation of what you’ve accomplished and what you intend to do next. If your entire campaign message is that the other party is worse and you only campaign in a primary when you have to and ignore a general election audience cycle after cycle, you’re asking voters to finish your homework.
And listen when people tell you life costs too much. A family worried about its insurance bill does not particularly care how many cable news appearances you booked this month.
Florida’s 9th District offers another lesson, this time about the choices Republicans make before November. Unofficial returns show Darren Soto ahead of Republican nominee Dan Green by just 1,477 votes. A gap that small deserves a serious examination of every decision that preceded it, including the nomination.
We backed Ben Butler, who finished the primary in a very close second despite being dramatically outspent, and we remain convinced Republicans need more candidates like him: a ninth-generation Floridian, dairy farmer and cattle rancher with deep local roots and experience dealing with the issues his district faces. That gives a candidate something meaningful to talk about beyond the latest Washington argument.
Nobody can prove an alternate election result. But Republicans should be asking whether we are choosing nominees who can connect with the whole district, explain their convictions and earn votes beyond the primary electorate. Winning the nomination is one qualification for winning a seat. It cannot be the only one we consider.
At Ascent, our takeaway is simple: recruit better candidates and demand more from the members we already have.
A favorable map is an advantage. It is not a campaign plan. And a congressional seat is a job voters hire you to do, with a performance review every two years.
Act accordingly.
A Note About Indiana – Kory Wood
I’ve seen a lot of bad takes from elected officials since Tuesday. Too many are trying to explain away the election results rather than confront the real problem staring back at them in the mirror.
Let’s get something straight. Hamilton County is not a blue county. Neither are Hendricks, Boone, Madison, or Delaware.
Republicans didn’t lose ground in these communities because of population growth or changing demographics.
We lost because of bad policy, divisive politics, and a failure to deliver REAL results that make people’s lives better.
Did national politics play a role? Absolutely. The war, inflation, and tariffs have all contributed to rising costs at the gas pump, grocery store, and on utility bills. Voters are frustrated, and rightfully so.
But let’s not pretend our own Statehouse hasn’t contributed to that frustration.
Anyone who spent time knocking on doors and actually listening to voters heard it firsthand. People are tired of the divisiveness coming from some of our leaders. They’re frustrated by the lack of meaningful action to make life more affordable. And they’re tired of politicians picking fights with suburban communities and the very things that make them great, especially our schools.
We need to stop treating the suburbs like the enemy and start listening to the people who live there.
The answer isn’t to double down on the same failed approach or blame voters for rejecting it. It’s to recognize what isn’t working and change course.
Less partisanship. More action. Less talk. More results. And for once, let’s stop talking long enough to actually listen.
These counties aren’t lost. They can absolutely be won back with strong leadership, common-sense policies, and a relentless focus on making life better and more affordable for Hoosiers.
Voters aren’t asking for more political bullshit. Many aren’t wearing a red or blue jersey. They’re asking us to do our jobs. It’s time we started listening.
