I know, 2025 was a rotten year. But it was an important year too. Why?

Because of what it revealed: the intentions of the American oligarchy were on full display.

But what else was on display? The power of the people. Here are 10 big victories to celebrate from 2025.

1) Millions of us hit the streets in protest at No Kings Day rallies. We peacefully reminded the nation that we do not bow down to a wannabe king. 

2) New York’s Zohran Mamdani and Seattle’s Katie Wilson challenged the status quo and fought Big Money to win their mayoral races. And in Miami, Democrat Eileen Higgins flipped the mayor’s office blue for the first time in nearly 30 years.

3) Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governorship. Mikie Sherrill won in New Jersey. Both put the affordability crisis and skyrocketing utility costs at the forefront of their campaigns. 

4) Pennsylvania defended the pro-democracy majority on its state Supreme Court. Wisconsin did too — despite Elon Musk spending millions to hijack that election.

5) In Colorado, voters passed a ballot referendum that funds free meals for public school students, and pays for it by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy. 

6) Citizens from Wisconsin to Arizona to Indiana rose up to protest AI data centers in their communities. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have had to delay or abandon projects because ordinary people said NO.

7) New Mexico became the first state to implement universal childcare, saving families $12,000 per child annually.

8) New York banned pricing software that helps landlords collude to jack up rents. California took it a step further by banning algorithmic price-fixing all together, stopping corporations from sneakily charging customers different prices for the same products.

9) Oregon enacted the nation’s strictest law blocking private equity firms from owning medical clinics and practices, which will lower healthcare costs and save lives.

10) A wave of consumer protection laws passed all over the country. States like Nevada, Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, and Virginia took steps to put an end to hidden  “junk” fees that allow corporations to hide the true cost of goods. 

I also want to make a special mention of unionized Starbucks workers who went on strike for a fair contract, as well as thousands of other workers who continue to organize against corporate greed. Solidarity.

As we turn the page to a new year, it’s good to keep in mind that however bleak things may seem in Washington, we are not giving up. We are putting in the work in our states and communities — and winning big. 

Let’s keep up the fight in 2026 — and remember, we outnumber the oligarchs.