Scott Frostman: Reelecting Donald Trump to the White House reawakens "morning in America"

“It’s morning again in America.” It’s the opening to a famous campaign ad from President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 reelection campaign. The ad was a wholesome review of how much life for Americans had improved since Reagan was elected in 1980, succeeding the “malaise” of President Jimmy Carter. I was reminded of that ad and 1984’s optimism this past week.

Americans sat glued to election coverage last Tuesday night, with true political junkies (like me) huddled over laptops discerning numbers into the wee hours. The much-hoped for “red wave” became a reality as night gave way to Wednesday morning. Conservatives, Republicans and others on the right had an overwhelming feeling of both joy and relief at the news that once and future President Donald Trump would make history by winning this historic election. 

On the national stage, it was a resounding victory as Republicans took the White House, U.S. Senate, and as of press time, were on the verge of maintaining their majority in the U.S. House. The solidity of the mandate won by Trump was demonstrated by his performance in the seven critical “swing” states, including Wisconsin, that were thought to be in play in the 2024 presidential election. Trump won all seven states. 

Wisconsin was once again ground-zero for the 2024 election. The margin of Trump’s victory here was less than 30,000 votes, the closest in the nation. Nationally, the final votes are still trickling in. Trump scored a solid margin of victory in the Electoral College. His raw vote total will be a chunk higher than 2020, and it would appear Harris will end up with significantly fewer votes than President Joe Biden in 2020. The salient question would be whether voters “flipped” to Trump, or if some Democrats chose to sit this one out. It would be hard to explain fewer votes against someone described as “an existential threat to democracy” and all manner of scary terms thrown at Trump.

Trump won the election by having a far better connection with everyday working Americans who were tired of inflation, higher interest rates, economic stagnation, the mess on the southern border and more. As they are wont to do, the left simply continues to lurch too far to appease progressives. The war on parents with school children, wanting boys to compete in girls sports and more were deal-killers for working-class Americans who rallied for Trump. Turns out calling voters “garbage” and the continuous haughty attitude displayed by so many in American media wasn’t a winning strategy. 

It was compelling to watch the New York Times map on election night that showed hundreds of counties with shifts to “red” that actually made the map of the United States look like it was experiencing the “red wave” that came to fruition. 

On the state level, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, eked out a victory over Eric Hovde by about that same 30,000 vote margin. Inexplicably, almost 60,000 Trump voters appeared to pass over Hovde, and therefore sent Baldwin back to six more years in Washington, D.C. With Republican majorities in the Senate and House, and Trump in the White House, Baldwin will fit right in with little to accomplish.

We all knew the legislative races in Wisconsin would bring a mixed bag of results. After the new maps (nicknamed “Tonymandered” by many Republicans), GOP margins in both houses were significantly impacted, with the Times map showing an 18-15 majority in the State Senate, and a 54-45 margin in favor of Republicans in the state Assembly.

The two biggest losses in the Senate were Duey Strobel in the new District 8, and the area’s own Joan Ballweg in District 14.  It’s a travesty to lose Ballweg’s common sense voice for central Wisconsin. The incoming senator, Sarah Keyeski, relied on big outside money, and inane connections to “Project 2025.” 

Now, the state and nation must heal. President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address implored Americans to show “malice toward none.” We can find those principles on which all Americans agree: peace, prosperity, safety and opportunity among those. We may differ on how much control we cede to any level of government, but must remember that government has no power aside from those granted by consent of the governed. With those principles in mind, it can be “morning in America” once again.