Roughly halfway through the classic 1818 novel Frankenstein, the frightening and malignant creature created by Victor Frankenstein confronts him—and explains in the plainest terns possible the new balance in the relationship between them:
“Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!”
Sometimes, as this novel warns us, the monsters we build take charge and turn us into their servants, so we cannot presume we will always be in control of what we foolishly create. The dire consequences of reanimating a corpse stitched-together from body parts dug up from graveyards would seem apparent to most, but Victor Frankenstein, drunk on the power and glory he believed would soon be his if his experiment succeeded, simply ignored any possibility of disaster—and so doomed himself.
Welcome to the mainstream Democrat Party in 2026.
Shocked that the reanimated Communist corpse thought dead and buried with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 has now—thanks to electric jolts of anti-Semitism, grievance politics, and blind hatred of America—risen from a dorm room fantasy to a potent national movement that is rousting establishment Democrats from office, formerly-cozy Democrat leaders are frantically trying to control the monster that seems intent on killing them all—electorally speaking, of course.
At no time during misguided lab experiments over the past few decades that allied them with Middle Eastern terrorists, illegal immigrants, violent felons, America haters, and all variety of gender benders and quasi-pedophiles did it apparently ever occur to Democrats that their hideous creation might demand their obedience. Now stuck with a slew of unabashedly Communist candidates who are happy to rampage through the countryside offending the peasants (a,k.a. Independent voters) rather than engage in the dull task of building consensus and winning votes, D.C. Democrat leaders are terrified that their dreams of a Blue Wave in this year’s midterms will be strangled by extremists who view them as traitors to the sacred cause of destroying Capitalism, Capitalists—and anyone who stands in their way.
The playbook over past decade for far-Left Democrats has been, of course, to present themselves as sensitive and empathetic moderates until Election Day, which is how we have ended up with “Socialism with a smile” in Blue cities and states across America. Of course, once in office, the mask can come off and the grim business of punishing middle-of-the-road Americans can begin in earnest, but the key phrase in this electoral equation is simple and direct: once in office. Fiery speeches and social media histories full of hatred, derision, and overly-explicit plans for raising taxes, hobbling law enforcement, and stomping on businesses are not likely to be pathways to ballot box victories, particularly now that urban implosions in New York, Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and many other Democrat-run cities are providing ample evidence that putting the extremist monsters in charge is a really bad idea. Just as in literature, life does not always have happy endings.
Moreover, optics matter in elections, and most Americans are going to be just a little leery of Nazi tattoos, non-existent work histories, and propensities to shoot (off one’s mouth) first and ask no questions (and offer no apologies) later. The true believers in the redemptive powers of a Ph.d in Puppetry or the efficacy and honesty of government assistance programs that are funded, as the expression used to go, by “Sticking it to the Man” will, understandably, be thrilled by handshakes with Hamas terrorists and local corporations being saddled with all manner of new taxes and regulations. However, those who are more worried about the epidemic of illiteracy in our public schools and thoroughly dislike being carjacked are not likely to vote for someone who sounds like a cross between Leon Trotsky and their nose-ringed niece who insists on eating tofu on Thanksgiving. This might not always be fair, but it is a reality that cannot be denied.
It could, of course, be the case that, when the history of 2026 is written, we are now on the cusp of a revolution—but I doubt it. Although confrontation and controversy plays well on podcasts and TikTok, most Americans are still focused on the mundane tasks of caring for their families, working at their jobs, covering the car pool to their child’s soccer game, and planting some petunias in the spring. The dull plod of semi-annual dental cleanings, preparing many tasty dinners, getting a good night’s sleep, cleaning the car, watching one’s budget, and caring for those whom we love occupies roughly 95% of the days, weeks, and months of those who are not young (or terminally immature), single, childless, or completely lost concerning the many challenges of adult life—which translates into plenty of time for “activism” that seems kind of grown up.
A roomful of angry baristas who found out their expensive college degrees are worthless and the people who actually enjoy wearing Crocs can certainly build the energy to win a primary election where only 6% of eligible voters ever turn out, but a general election is a whole different issue—unless, as is sometimes the case, your candidate is running virtually unopposed for a seat that could, in fact, be won by a cross between Leon Trotsky and your nose-ringed niece who insists on eating tofu on Thanksgiving. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Regardless of how extreme their candidates might be, Democrats will benefit from the amnesia and lassitude that tend to mark midterm elections. Moreover, no one can say what national or international events—whether they be wars, riots, assassinations, food crises, economic collapses, or a host of other unknown factors—might play out between today and Election Day. For all we know Frankenstein’s monster might have been able to win office one day in California or New York.
Maybe.