Whatever happens tonight, the fight begins anew tomorrow. Trump and Trumpism are not temporary aberrations that will magically disappear.

If Democrats have a good day, we go to work on 2020. And maybe some Republicans will get courageous and challenge Trump.

If Trump and the Republicans have a good day, you can imagine what’s coming next. The racist dog whistles – actually, they’re more like bullhorns – will amp up. The voter suppression, gerrymandering, court-packing, power-grabbing and corruption will go on.

Either way, Trump will claim it’s a good day – for him. Either way, he’ll dial up the fear, hate and anger. It’s what he does.

He’ll continue his assault on three foundations of our republic: (1) free and fair elections, (2) constitutional government and (3) the principle that all people are created equal and deserve a chance based on character and work, not color, background or money.

Con man that he is, Trump has seduced millions of Americans into joining his attack. He has cowed virtually every Republican politician into joining in.

Whatever happens today, Democrats have questions to answer. The inevitable – and wrong – fight is progressivism versus centrism. We need progressives, centrists, Independents and non-Trump Republicans, all.

To that end, we should examine whether it’s enough to address “kitchen table” issues that concern so-called “everyday Americans” – the litany of health care, the cost of college, Social Security and Medicare, minimum wage, etc.

Yes, it’s the economy, stupid. But maybe it’s smart to aim higher, to talk about who we are and what we want to be, and to call on Americans to join together in a crusade for unity, idealism and national purpose.

After the last two years, doesn’t America deserve better?