OPINION: What do Democrats do now?

What do we do when elections hand us a loss? The answer to this question is different for everybody. But for the politically involved, it is especially revealing. 

We knew the uphill battle we were fighting in Idaho. And yet, 13 amazing candidates stepped up anyway, determined to make every Democratic and Moderate voter in North Idaho know that someone was fighting for them. 

I want to express my great pride in the Democrats who ran for offices in Kootenai County: Kaylee Peterson, Tom Hearn, Loree Peery, Paula Marano, Brian Seguin, Dale Broadsword, Steve Bruno, Carissa Hober, Angela Chandler, Adam Chapman, Kristy Reed-Johnson and Teresa Borrenpohl. They sacrificed so much so you could have a choice at the ballot box. 

We don’t compete for the easy win. We run so every North Idahoan knows that somebody’s there fighting for them. 

If you felt like somebody was standing up for you, we accomplished our goal.

The results of the national election are a harder pill to swallow. The rest of the United States is about to understand what it feels like to live in the land of the Far Right, where defending basic freedoms is a constant battle. For us in Idaho, not much will change. We are accustomed to being the loyal opposition. Idaho Democrats are experienced phoenixes: We fall, and then we rise again. Relentlessly. 

For many, this election was a new experience. For the first time in decades, our volunteer numbers swelled to remarkable proportions. All across Idaho, people who had never been politically involved before started to phone bank, door knock and volunteer. 

This is the first time that these people will come to understand the resiliency and power that is part and parcel of being an Idaho Democrat. 

So what do we do now? We learn and then lean into the things that make us strong.  

We are organizing a community food drive. On Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring nonperishable food items to the Ramsey Park’s south lot. No one in our community should have to go hungry over the holidays. 

What else do Democrats do now? 

We check in on each other. One person baked cookies and delivered them to struggling friends. Someone else delivered a pie to a volunteer that was especially down. One of our doorknockers remembered a family that was struggling with life’s basic necessities. She is brainstorming ways to help them. 

These acts of kindness, both large and small, are inspiring. When Democrats lose, we lean back into the thing we do best — working to move our community forward. 

“Rivers know this: that there is no hurry. We will get there someday.“  - AA Milne.

Together, we will continue marching toward a More Perfect Union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.