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It’s over except for the rest of the counting, recounts, squabbling, likely right-wing legal actions, and a Georgia rematch.

Regardless of how you feel about the outcome based on political preferences, here are 6 powerful and positive observations about how the election will impact the US moving forward:

1. It showed that the American people overall are critical thinking instead of Kool-Aid drinking the claims, lies, and exaggerations propagated primarily by the extreme right wing. The predicted “red wave” didn’t materialize, the House of Representatives will not have a veto-proof majority, and we could keep a Dem-controlled Senate depending on a few key races. Many Republican winners didn’t get the high vote percentages they expected. And in one case at least, Colorado’s Lauren Boebert, it has come down to the wire with her Democratic opponent. Even if she ultimately ekes out a win, which is in doubt, it won’t be anything close to the drubbing she, her party, and the polls predicted. Clearly, many voters are getting fed up with Boebert’s thoughtless, stupid, and dangerous antics. That’s a clear message to Trumpers everywhere.

2. There is now renewed hope that we may be able to save our democratic republic. While undoubtedly Trumpers will continue their quest to destroy our form of government, they’re now facing formidable obstacles. The people have spoken, and they’re saying, “not so fast, buckwheat!” Plus, so far at least, the “Trump tide” is turning away from him in a variety of Republican circles. More folks are saying it’s time to move on from him and his insidious, incendiary BS.

3. DeSantis and Trump may wind up at war with one another. While the early analysis is unclear about if, when, and how they will spar, it’s a safe bet that if they do, both will get beaten up—weakening their positions and the clout of extremists of their party. In some ways at least, as long as they’re screwing over one another, they have less time to do it to the country. That’s a harbinger of hope for our democratic republic and a return to sanity as well.

4. Moderate Republicans will get a chance to wield more influence and establish more engagement with the electorate. Republicans per se aren’t “bad” or “good.” It’s the current extreme Trump influence that has upended the party. Right now, I feel that the only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican. I’d like to get back to a position of balance, where tenets of both parties reside more in the center than the extremes. This is where cooperation, collaboration, and compromise can flourish to bring better outcomes to the nation. I’d like to get back to voting based on issues and merits of individual candidates versus voting a straight Democratic ticket because of my current “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” position. There are lots of good candidates out there, just like there are many good voters. Let’s start reaching across the aisle instead of erecting impenetrable walls in the middle of them.

5. Needless time, energy, and resources now being expended on vindictive efforts can stop. Make no mistake, the Jan. 6 House hearings are valuable and critical both to document exactly what did happen that day, and to prosecute those clearly culpable for all related despicable acts. Never-ending efforts to impeach Biden if the Republicans regain the House “just because they can” are ridiculous and frivolous unless they can clearly establish, as the Jan. 6 House committee has, that substantive offenses are on the table.

6. Civility and common sense can once again prevail. Making jokes and making light of Paul Pelosi’s serious injuries is outrageously unacceptable behavior in any civilized society regardless of political affiliation. In the same vein, the woke criticism of Jill Biden being racist because she said she likes tacos also is absurd. C’mon people, let’s get back to some semblance of sanity here.

As the weeks, months, and years unfold, we’ll obviously see a roller coaster ride as all of this plays out. Let’s just hope that when the ride stops, we still have our democratic republic.

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