The Tide Has Turned

During the lead up to the November election, I manned a democratic party information booth at a Venice area polling place, informally keeping track of drivers who either honked and gave a thumbs up, or honked so I’d be looking their way when they flipped me off or hurled invectives. While my survey was anecdotal and unscientific, it was clear Trump supporters outnumbered Harris voters 60/40. Trump’s win was no surprise.

Fast forward to the October 18th No Kings protest. As I stood shoulder to shoulder with other sign waivers, the majority of honking drivers offered a thumbs up. Others who yelled they “loved Trump” were few and far between. I’m sure there were more of them, but their MAGA-voices were drowned out by protesters calling for an end to Trump’s fascist regime.

'No Kings' Protest, October 18, 2025 | Venice, Florida

There were still incidents with MAGA supporters. One gentleman wearing a Venice Area Democratic Club T-shirt told me a guy ripped his No Kings protest sign off the stick, an aggressive act witnessed by several people. Yes, the Proud Boys were out in force Saturday, but they were mostly cowed by the sheer number of protesters.

Last week, Southwest Florida democrats were treated to town halls held by gubernatorial candidate David Jolly. Afterwards, during a zoom call, Jolly’s campaign staffer informed us that people came up to him at these events, whispering in his ear, “I’m a Republican.”

It appears the numbers are increasingly on our side; perhaps because smart Republicans have seen the light and are joining us. We welcome them.

Joanne Lalli, Venice, Florida