I vividly remember the surprise on Election Night 2016 as it began to look like Donald Trump could achieve a shocking win against Hillary Clinton.

By early the next morning, it was clear that Trump had secured his victory.

And now, he’s done it yet again.

Congratulations to the president on his success.

While I have worries about the start of Trump’s second term, particularly regarding his ability to assemble a strong team and advisors, I have a more immediate concern:

Will Democrats acknowledge this election result and come to terms with Trump as their president?

The Democratic Party has spent years warning voters that Republicans cannot be trusted to maintain our constitutional democracy. During her campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris used alarming language, labeling Trump as a fascist and a danger to democracy.

The events of January 6, 2021, were an unfortunate chapter in American history, and I hope we do not see a repeat of that. Trump’s refusal to concede after his 2020 defeat fueled conspiracy theories and ultimately resulted in chaos at the Capitol.

Now, how Democrats respond to their defeat will be crucial.

It’s the Democrats’ moment to demonstrate their belief in elections

Progressives and their allies in the mainstream media have emphasized that our elections are safe and secure, asserting that widespread voter fraud is not an issue in America.

This principle holds true once again.

However, it’s also true that Trump Derangement Syndrome is prevalent, and many on the left harbor intense dislike for Trump.

Let’s recall that immediately following Trump’s 2016 victory, the “resistance” movement emerged swiftly. Many made declarations of “not my president.”

Trump’s opponents began devising ways to undermine him even before he took office, and claims of Russian interference—proved false—tainted his presidency.

Hillary Clinton also suggested the 2016 election was “illegitimate,” which painted her as a sore loser.

The Women’s March on Washington, complete with attendees wearing pink hats, was dedicated to protesting against a legitimately elected president. Their hatred was palpable.

This time, will they acknowledge Trump as their president, particularly after January 6 and in light of his felony convictions?

Unlikely.

If Democrats are unhappy with the results, they only have themselves to blame

The Democratic Party must take responsibility for this election’s results. A better-prepared candidate could have successfully challenged Trump.

President Joe Biden failed to recognize that he wasn’t fit for a second term, and Democrats delayed too long in persuading him to withdraw from the race. Moreover, they misled the public about Biden’s true status.

This deception denied Democrats a fair primary, preventing worthy competitors from stepping up for the nomination.

Instead, Harris was chosen without any alternative evaluations.

Harris, who is unpopular and ineffective as vice president, proved to be a poor choice, lacking a clear vision separate from Biden’s.

Her main argument was simply that she was not Biden or Trump.

Ultimately, that wasn’t sufficient.

To move forward, Harris and the Democratic Party should support progressives in moving on from this defeat.

Trump has only four more years possible in office, which can be a consolation for Democrats.