Democrats were dealt a crushing blow this week when an NBC poll revealed an all-time low in party popularity. The party appears to be mired in negative messaging as it seeks to identify a leader.
Meanwhile, Democratic governors in New York and Michigan have abandoned democracy in favor of partisan politics. They are delaying special elections to fill vacant seats, most likely because they believe Republicans will win.
Yes, the self-proclaimed protectors of “democracy” want 750,000 New Yorkers and 270,000 Michiganders to be denied representation in the United States House and state Senate, respectively, because the elections would likely disadvantage Democrats.
The political slogan “No taxation without representation” originated during the Revolutionary War. The central concept of self-government in a constitutional republic is that the people have a say in how the country is run.
Today’s Democratic governors are adopting the same tactics that inspired our Founding Fathers to fight for our freedom. They have now openly adopted an anti-democratic stance.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is expected to “slow-walk” calling an election in the 21st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), whom President Donald Trump has nominated to serve as UN ambassador.
Stefanik’s resignation will most likely leave the vacancy unfilled for several months. State Democrats, at the request of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have moved to keep it open even longer, until November or later.
That means House Republicans will have to operate with a dwindling three-seat majority for as long as Hochul postpones the election.
Hochul attempted to reverse her decision to postpone the special election after realizing that President Donald Trump wielded significant power over the future of the state’s new congestion pricing program. Trump has threatened to use the federal Department of Transportation to end the congestion tax.
Meanwhile, Stefanik’s seat is in limbo. The legislature and Jeffries want to keep it open for as long as possible, most likely in the hopes that Democrats will gain more seats across the country in 2026 and Jeffries will be elected Speaker of the House.
Hochul, a self-proclaimed defender of democracy, is weighing her options despite her constituents, and a review of her X account suggests she is more concerned with Ukraine than New York.
“This president may not stand with democracy, but we will,” Hochul wrote on X while virtue signaling about Ukraine.
Interestingly, the New York governor supports democracy in a country over 4,500 miles away but not upstate voters.
“Voter suppression is an insidious virus attacking the very core of our democracy,” Hochul wrote in 2022.
Voter suppression is terrible and should never be tolerated, but at least those voters can cast their ballots. It is worse to deny all voters a voice and leave them without representation in Washington, D.C.
In Michigan, thanks to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, an entire state Senate district lacks representation in Lansing. A state Senate seat vacated after Kristen McDonald Rivet was elected to the United States House has reduced the Democrats’ majority to 19-18.
While it appears to be a difficult district for Republicans to win, the energy generated by Trump’s victory in Michigan would undoubtedly provide Republicans with an opportunity to win a seat, particularly in that part of the state.
A GOP victory would result in a 19-19 tie. Democrats would still have a tie-breaking vote because the Democratic lieutenant governor presided over the body. However, it would complicate Whitmer’s agenda after Democrats lost the House majority in November and now have to deal with Republican House Speaker Matt Hall.
This would also imply that Whitmer presided over Democrats losing control of the House and resulting in a tie in the Senate, which is not a good look for a future presidential candidate.
Whitmer, like Hochul, has touted herself as an arbiter of “democracy.”
“Voting not only ensures that your voice is heard, but also that we have leaders who truly represent our communities and ideals. It is critical that we take a stand against extremism and elect leaders who will fight tirelessly to protect our liberties and democracy.” Whitmer shared on X in 2023.
Voters in Midland, Saginaw, and Bay counties agree and want to have their voices heard, no matter what they say. Their communities want representation, but their “extremist” governor refuses to let them vote.
“We are a shining beacon of democracy and freedom in the world because we settle our stark differences at the ballot box,” Whitmer wrote in response to a man attempting to assassinate Trump.
Agreed. Allow the 35th Senate District to have its say, governor.
Many people expected Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to weigh in on the election schedule. Benson is another self-appointed arbiter of “democracy” who opposes it.
She even wrote a book about it, but she does not appear to care enough about Michigan residents’ right to representation to demand that Whitmer hold a special election. Her office is responsible for elections, but she has remained silent in the face of district protests.
This is even more surprising when you learn she wants to be the next person with the authority to call a special election. Benson has announced her own campaign for governor of Michigan, riding Whitmer’s coattails. A woman she describes as “a brilliant, thoughtful leader who truly cares deeply about the people of this state.”
Both women claim to care about Michigan and want to lead, but their actions show that they are more concerned with personal power than with the people they were elected to serve.
Throughout her tenure as secretary of state, Benson jeopardized election integrity by easing security restrictions on voting rights. When confronted, she responded on X, saying, “Friday fact: only US citizens vote in US elections. Many politicians are wrongly trying to persuade you otherwise.” This did not age well.
In the 2024 election, a Chinese national walked into an early voting site in Ann Arbor and voted. His ballot was fed into the machine, and his vote was recorded. It was discovered only after he realized what he was doing was illegal and contacted the city clerk to retrieve his ballot.
That prompted an investigation. His vote was certain to count because it had already been entered into the tabulating machine. An illegal vote by a Chinese national effectively nullified one by a US citizen.
Benson ignored the illegal vote and was never held accountable, nor was anyone in her office; no one was fired or disciplined. She simply acknowledged the disaster, moved on, and declared her candidacy for higher office.
Whether you’re dealing with a governor, secretary of state, or would-be speaker of the United States House, Democrats have demonstrated that they oppose democracy. This week, Americans expressed dissatisfaction with Democrats’ behavior. According to the NBC poll, only 27% of registered voters approve of the party.
These radical Democrats want political power and are willing to deny the right to vote to keep it. To that, we reiterate our Founding Fathers’ words: “No taxation without representation.” This is critical to safeguarding democracy against power-hungry politicians.
Tudor Dixon is a former Republican gubernatorial candidate, steel industry executive, breast cancer survivor, and working mother of four girls. She currently hosts the Tudor Dixon Podcast.
