We celebrated. Now the work begins.

Nov. 3 was a decisive night for Democrats. Many expected the party to win control of at least one chamber of Congress, but few anticipated such a resounding victory in both. Democrats needed four Senate seats and three House districts to regain control. They flipped seven Senate seats and more than 40 House seats.

When the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, 2027, Democrats are projected to hold 54 Senate seats and 252 House seats, while Republicans will hold 44 Senate seats and 161 House seats. Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska, along with several House races, remain unresolved.

Newly elected Democrats and their supporters celebrated into the morning with speeches, dancing, cheers and tears. They welcomed an end to what they saw as the administration’s abuse of power and its grip on all three branches of government. Voters also made history, electing Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia as the nation’s first Black woman governor.

After two years of struggling to afford housing, groceries, health care, gas and other everyday expenses, Americans deserve to celebrate. But victory is only the beginning. Now we must roll up our sleeves and help elected officials deliver on the promises that earned our votes. Elections are about rights and resources, and we must hold our representatives accountable for protecting our rights and securing the resources our communities need.

Control of both chambers gives Democrats real power. They can pass legislation affecting civil rights, voting rights, criminal justice, education, housing, health care, immigration, labor, business and environmental protections. They can approve budgets, fund government programs, set taxes and authorize borrowing. They can hold hearings, investigate misconduct, examine federal agencies, issue subpoenas and demand testimony and documents. They can limit executive authority, withhold funding for certain initiatives and override vetoes with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. And they can exercise Congress’ constitutional authority over war and military funding.

But winning congressional seats is not the same as delivering results. The central question is whether Democrats will use oversight and appropriations to protect existing civil rights and federal resources, rather than focus exclusively on opposing Trump. Investigations and legislation can happen simultaneously. They should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

For Black, brown, Indigenous, immigrant and other marginalized communities, I would measure congressional performance with six questions:

Are voting rights being protected?
Are federal investments reaching underserved communities?
Are civil rights laws being enforced?
Are economic opportunities and resources expanding?
Are elected officials using oversight powers to hold federal agencies accountable?
Are immigration policies fair and humane?

Winning Congress does not give Democrats the power to enact their entire agenda. The president retains considerable executive authority, and the Constitution provides several ways to resist congressional initiatives. It is important to distinguish legitimate constitutional opposition from actions that could raise serious legal or constitutional concerns.

The veto is Trump’s most direct tool for blocking legislation. In a New York Post interview days before the election, he said he would become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats won, and suggested that repeated vetoes could force Democrats to negotiate with him. On election night, he told CBS News that the veto gives him “the ultimate power.”

In practice, Democrats could pass bills in both chambers, and Trump could veto them. Without two-thirds support in each chamber to override a veto, those bills would not become law. Trump could also expand his use of executive orders, use the Department of Justice and federal agencies, challenge congressional investigations and turn to the courts to defend his policies.

Democrats have several tools to turn their victory into action. They should move quickly, setting priorities and advancing bills before political divisions or delays undermine the agenda. They should use the power of the purse, writing appropriations legislation and setting lawful conditions on federal spending. They should conduct strong oversight of executive actions and demand accountability. They should protect civil rights by advancing legislation and strengthening federal enforcement. They should use their confirmation authority to reject nominees considered unsuitable or whose policies conflict with their priorities. And they should work with governors, attorneys general and state legislatures to challenge potentially unlawful federal actions.

President Barack Obama’s historic election on Nov. 4, 2008, and the Black electoral victories of Nov. 3, 2026, remind us that political representation is an important milestone. But representation alone is not the ultimate measure of progress.

The question we must continue to ask is this: What does political representation mean if it does not translate into meaningful improvements in the lives, opportunities and economic conditions of Black, brown, Indigenous and immigrant communities?

Our continuing challenge is to turn electoral victories into political influence, policy outcomes, economic opportunity, community investment and lasting generational progress. As voters, we must hold elected officials accountable for advancing the people’s agenda, not their own. They work for us, not the other way around.

Many call the Nov. 3 midterm results a “blue wave.” I see something broader: a wave for humanity, for the people and for the future of democracy for all. It was not about red or blue. It was about us, me and you.

Grace and peace.

James Trice is the founder and CEO of The Public Policy Project. . He welcomes reader responses at James_publicpolicyproject@msn.com.