It was a week to celebrate!

As an elder friend at church said today, “It restored my faith in humanity.” From my exercise class instructor on Thursday, I learned a new term: hope scrolling. What a welcome replacement for all the doom scrolling we’ve done!

On a Zoom call this week, a colleague commented on the painting that is seen over my shoulder on every call – Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). I replied that she is smiling this week, as am I!

I’ve spent much of the week reading election analyses, looking at photos of the winners, and reflecting on what the November 3 midterms might mean for our country’s future. Yes, Democrats regained control of both the House and Senate. But beyond the political victories, three themes stand out to me: a more diverse generation of leaders, young people making their voices heard, and the possibility of a different kind of politics – a politics of love.

A government that looks more like America

The diversity of the newly elected leaders is remarkable. Consider just a few historic firsts:

• Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota became the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
• Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
• Chris Pappas of New Hampshire became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.
• Gina Hinojosa became the first Latina elected governor of Texas.
• Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of Georgia.

These are not simply symbolic milestones. Representation matters. When people see leaders who share their backgrounds, experiences, and challenges, they can begin to imagine possibilities that previous generations might have considered out of reach.

As someone who has spent decades advocating for women in leadership and mentoring the next generation, I know how important it is to see someone like yourself in positions of influence and power. Diversity brings different perspectives and lived experiences to decision-making. And that makes our institutions stronger.

As my sign at No Kings rallies over the past two years has boldly proclaimed, “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”

This election was another demonstration of that power.

A new generation is stepping forward

Somewhere in a box of old photographs and newspaper clippings is a picture of me sitting at a card table on the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, where I grew up, asking people to sign an Impeach Nixon petition.

Yes, you read that right. It was 1974!

More than 50 years later, I still believe in the power of civic engagement. But I also recognize that my generation cannot and should not be the one carrying the torch forever.

One of the most encouraging findings from this election was the role of young voters. According to Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), 66% of voters ages 18–29 supported Democratic House candidates, compared with 31% who voted Republican. Young voter turnout was estimated at 27%, the second-highest midterm participation rate in the past 30 years.

The shift was especially notable among young men, who had leaned toward Donald Trump in 2024 but favored Democratic House candidates in 2026.

Of course, young voters are not a monolithic group, and their concerns include very real economic pressures. But these results remind us that younger generations are engaged and willing to make their voices heard.

I find that enormously encouraging. Throughout my career, I’ve believed that developing and supporting the next generation of leaders is one of the most important things we can do. That applies just as much to civic and political leadership as it does to healthcare and technology.

The power of passing the torch

Among the many memes and photographs circulating on social media this week, two particularly struck a chord with me. Both captured the connection between generations of leaders and the lasting impact of those who came before.

The first was a photograph of Luci Baines Johnson giving a congratulatory hug to Senator-elect James Talarico of Texas. At just 37, Talarico won a U.S. Senate seat in a state that had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.

The symbolism was powerful. Luci’s father, Lyndon B. Johnson, represented Texas in the Senate before becoming Vice President in 1961 and later President. His Great Society programs and landmark civil rights legislation helped transform our country.

The second photograph was former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin congratulating Senator-elect Josh Turek.

This one was especially moving. Harkin was a principal sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990. Turek, who was born with spina bifida and has used a wheelchair since childhood, has spoken about how that legislation opened doors for him.

A former Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, Turek went on to become a state legislator and now a U.S. senator-elect. He credits Harkin’s work with helping make that journey possible.

Think about that. Legislation championed by one generation helped create opportunities for someone who would become a leader in the next.

That is what lasting leadership looks like. It is not just about what we accomplish during our own careers or lifetimes. It is about the doors we open for those who follow.

These two photographs capture something I have long believed: Progress is a relay, not a solo race. Each generation has a responsibility to move us forward and then pass the baton.

Choosing a politics of love

One of my go-to reads each morning is Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American. Her post-election reflections placed the results in a historical context, connecting today’s political struggles to the long fight for equal rights and a more inclusive democracy.

But it was James Talarico’s victory speech that offered the most compelling message of the week.

Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, has spoken about politics through the lens of faith, compassion, and the dignity of every person. In his victory speech, he challenged the politics of division and described an alternative: a politics of love.

His message was not that Americans must agree on everything. Rather, he argued that political differences need not prevent us from recognizing our shared humanity.

That resonates deeply with me.

We have spent years watching political disagreements divide families, strain friendships, and erode trust in our institutions. We have seen fear and anger used to pit people against one another. And we have seen how easily disagreement can turn into dehumanization.

A politics of love does not mean avoiding difficult issues or abandoning our principles. It does not mean ignoring injustice or failing to hold leaders accountable.

It means standing up for what we believe while recognizing the humanity of those with whom we disagree. It means choosing compassion over cruelty, inclusion over exclusion, and the common good over personal power.

It also means translating those values into action – policies that improve people’s lives, protect their rights, and expand opportunity.

Those principles are not limited to one political party. They are values that should guide all of us, regardless of our political affiliations.

And perhaps that is the most important challenge for this new generation of leaders: Can they move beyond the politics of anger and division and demonstrate that a different approach is possible?

Hope is not a spectator sport

I am encouraged by these election results, but I am not naive. One election does not solve our country’s problems. The divisions are deep, the challenges are enormous, and meaningful change takes time.

I also know that the work of democracy is never finished. The rights and opportunities we enjoy today exist because earlier generations organized, advocated, voted, and refused to give up.

Now a new generation has the opportunity and responsibility to build on that legacy.

For those of us who have been around for a while, our responsibility is to support them, mentor them, share what we’ve learned, and know when to step aside so they can lead.

For all of us, the challenge is to remain engaged, hold our elected leaders accountable, and work toward a country where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

So yes, I’m enjoying some hope scrolling this week. After so much uncertainty and division, it feels good to celebrate progress and possibility.

But hope alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by action, courage, and a willingness to care about people beyond ourselves.

A more representative democracy. A new generation of leaders. A politics grounded in love rather than hate.

That’s a future worth working for.

To that I say, amen!