For those disillusioned by election, 2025 is the year to reengage

All opinions expressed in this article are solely the opinions of the contributors.

In the aftermath of the divisive 2024 U.S. presidential election, a majority of Republicans describe their reaction to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory as “optimistic.” On the other side, Democrats are more pessimistic about their party’s future now than at any time in the past eight years.

Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey reminds us that for those disillusioned by the election outcome, this country still operates through voting. Dr. Richey encourages these individuals to stay engaged, emphasizing that those outside the voting class have limited influence over politicians.

Be the first to know when Dr. Rashad Richey publishes a new commentary every Friday!

Download the Straight Arrow News app and follow Rashad to receive push notifications.

The following is an excerpt from the above video:

So for those who are yes, disillusioned, you may feel disappointed, you may not like the current political landscape of the nation, I want to remind you that those who committed an act of domestic terrorism on that Jan. 6 day, those were volunteers. Nobody paid them to do it. They did it on their own. They paid money in order to engage in something that I consider to be holistically criminal, to overturn the very foundations of democracy. They were volunteers, and if they are willing to engage in that kind of action in order to uphold a bigoted and criminal narrative, so much more is required of us who stand against it.

So if you’re upset, good. Be upset. Volunteer more. If you don’t like what happened in the past election, I get it. I’m in the same boat. We have to do more, give more, sacrifice more. Engage more. 2025, don’t look at it as a year of less, look at it as a year of more — more from us who would like to see the progress we believe this nation can achieve.