By Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Pax Christi Illinois
See an additional post-election analysis written by Tom here.
Now that the mid-term elections are finished, I am sure many of us are exhausted: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Over the next few months, pundits and activists of all political stripes will seek to interpret what it all means. I simply want to tell you my election day story.
I am an Election Judge for DuPage County in Illinois. This was my third election; the first was during COVID when everyone was masked and working behind plexiglass shields. The mechanics of this election were much less stressful, but because of efforts to cast doubt on election integrity, we were especially diligent about following all the correct procedures.
As with every election I have worked, I was blessed with a wonderful team of fellow judges who were deeply committed to doing their duty and supporting one another. I especially appreciate that DuPage County allows senior high school students to serve as judges. It is a great way to teach citizenship to young people, and having tech-savvy young people to help with all the high-tech voting equipment is a real blessing to technophobes like me. This was also the most racially diverse team of judges I have ever worked with. Our suburban county has become remarkably diverse in the almost 30 years since I first moved here. (I was pleased to serve as the standard-issue old white guy on the team.)
As the polls opened, I was stationed at the front door to welcome voters. The overcast sky was beginning to break up, and it was ablaze with the most beautiful sunrise colors: deep reds, purples, yellows, and blues. My heart opened in a moment of recognition—a sign that God was present in this “sacred” place.
Illinois is a voter-friendly state. They work hard to make sure that every eligible voter has every possible opportunity to vote. We even have same-day registration. Many voters use mail-in ballots or go to one of the many early voting locations around the county. As a result, we don’t often see long lines to vote at my voting location.
There are three general types of voters. The first type is the grumpy voter, who seems bothered by the whole process. They seldom smile or engage with others. They come, frown, vote, and leave. Then there are a few (very few) belligerent voters. They quickly challenge and push back on any regulations put in place to protect the integrity of the process. I only had to deal with one belligerent voter and was able to de-escalate the situation quickly.
The important thing to remember about grumpy and belligerent voters is that I cannot assume anything about their motives. I have no idea what else is going on in their lives that they are carrying with them when they come to vote. I cannot judge, and most importantly, I must not make the mistake of believing I am being personally attacked.
The voters I will cherish in my heart are the joy-filled voters. I spent most of Election Day greeting voters at the beginning of the process and scanning ballots at the end. As I greeted every voter at the front door, I saw joy in the faces of so many who were genuinely happy to be there. A celebratory mood filled the entire area. Neighbors happily greeted each other.
When voters finished their ballot, they brought it to where I was stationed at the ballot-scanning machine. Each voter placed their ballot in the scanner for tabulation. The scanner usually paused while it processed the ballot. If everything checked out, the screen would display an American flag. I always made a point of standing with the voters as they waited for the flag to appear, and I would congratulate them and give them an “I voted” sticker. Sometimes I raised my hands in celebration; other times I pumped my fists and whispered “yes.” Voters’ reactions ranged from smiles and gratitude to jubilant fist-bumps.
Two types of joy-filled voters especially moved me. I always find first-time voters inspiring. They are often cautious and can be overwhelmed by the machinery of voting, but they are incredibly brave, and they take their duties seriously.
I will always remember the young African American teen who came to our voting places on his electric scooter wearing his grey hoodie. You could tell that he was reading his ballot carefully and considering every choice he made. He was making a bet on America. I pray that he will always believe that it was worth his investment.
I will also remember the immigrant voters who were so proud to vote for the first time. I remember the face of the South Asian man who asked me to take a picture of him with the American flag. He stood erect with an air of dignity that conveyed the historical significance of that day for himself and his family.
Finally, I want to say a word about all the voters who came with their children. (Sometimes entire families would come together to vote.) It was a pleasure to see children running around or sitting at their parents’ feet as they voted. Some parents brought their children because they had no childcare alternatives; others brought them to instill in them the meaning of citizenship. All these parents were heroic participants in the process.
When children joined their parents at the ballot scanner, I would invite them to come close to the screen and instruct them to “watch the magic.” When the American flag appeared, we would all clap or shout with joy. I always made sure to hand each child an “I voted” sticker while commissioning each of them as members of the “Future Voters of America.”
By far, the most touching moment of the day was in the early evening when an African American woman came through the door. She was limping on a swollen ankle in a great deal of pain. After she limped through the check-in process, I found her a table where she could sit and fill out her ballot. Once she finished, I helped her out of her seat and walked her over to the ballot scanner. The look of joy on her face when the American flag appeared was something I will never forget.
If you want to understand democracy in the United States, go to your voting place and watch America in action. We are diverse, and we come to the voting booth as the good, the bad, the confused, and the committed. Here comes America, here comes everybody! I only hope our elected leaders never forget those who sent them to the halls of power.
“We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
By Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
November 10, 2026
Already, many in the corporate media and among the Washington punditry are debating what the new Democratic majority should do with their big majorities by raising the false choice between focusing on issues of affordability or corruption. But as US Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) said in a recent CNN interview, “we can walk and chew gum at the same time.” But this false choice raises a much bigger, unspoken issue that goes deeper than competing tactical strategies, and we ignore it at our peril.
The current Democratic leadership in Congress is beholden to too many corporate interests in service to the status quo and oligarchy rule to provide the leadership needed going forward. When Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) caution Democrats to make affordability their primary focus, they are serving the same corporate interests and AIPAC aims they have always served.
On the other hand, focusing on corruption directly challenges corporate power and the rule of the oligarchy. That would make Jeffries’ and Schumer’s corporate overlords very uncomfortable. Attacking Republican and Democratic corruption could threaten their corporate gravy train.
Focusing on issues of “affordability” is where they are most comfortable. They have been playing this game for decades. And the game has a name, and that name is “incrementalism.” The game starts with big, noble goals that become incremental small steps deemed “doable.”
This game gives the appearance of making a difference while preserving the power structures that make life unbearable. We can’t have Medicare for All, so we will try to pass Obamacare 2.0 (or is it 3.0 or 4.0?). And if we do, we will be right back where we are today, with unaffordable healthcare and rising prices. This was the same game that Bill Clinton played during his presidency.
But as Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) understands, “Now is not the time for incrementalism or moderating our aspirations. We have to use our power.” Establishment Democrats always fall into the trap of playing short-game politics while Republicans have been playing long-game politics for years. While Establishment Democrats pat themselves on the back for incremental steps forward, Republicans shoot for the moon — not to win in the short term, but to change the national conversation in ways that will benefit them in the future. As a result, with every election cycle, the political discourse moves further to the right. Now, positions favored by 60 percent of US Americans are considered “radical.”
People like Schumer and Jeffries lack the political imagination necessary to move the Democratic Party out of the dead-end false binary choices that the corporate media keep raising. This false choice must be rejected. We can and must do both. Any politician who tries to raise this false choice is a clear indication that they serve the corporate interests of the ruling class.
I think this is what Jon Stewart was getting at when he spoke about Chuck Schumer’s leadership in the Senate: “Someone has to meet this moment. …[Schumer] does not understand the urgency of the moment and what the future demands.”
The voting is over; now the real work begins.