We often hear predictions about “political realignment,” but they rarely come true. Realignments are often once-in-a-generation events and they are not easy to create. The realignments are seismic, like Franklin Delano Roosevelt creating the New Deal coalition, or the departure of black Americans from the Republican Party during the civil rights era. They don’t happen every day, and it’s difficult to recognize a realignment until it’s complete. But last night’s election can go down in the history books as one of those rare events.

Former president and now president-elect Donald Trump made a historic comeback by defeating the vice president Kamala Harris badly in the 2024 elections. But the story of the election is not limited to his victory. That’s how he won. Once all the votes are counted, Trump will likely have won the largest share of non-white votes of anyone else. Republican presidential candidate since at least Gerald Ford in 1976, otherwise Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1960. He won between 25 and 30 percent of the black male vote nationwide, doubling his share from 2020 in some states. He won 45 percent of the Hispanic vote and an absolute majority of Hispanic men. He has won the largest share of the Jewish vote since the 1980s, while simultaneously increasing his share of the Arab American vote. And Trump performed better in big cities across this country.

You would have to go back to the era before the Civil Rights Act to see a more diverse Republican coalition.

This new paradigm shift has serious political repercussions in the future. The math for the Republican Party has changed, probably permanently. College-educated white voters once made up the party’s base. but as they continue their slow drift to the left, Republicans will have to maintain their new coalition.

The old Republican Party died last night. Going forward, they can never again ignore minorities, union workers, and working class voters if they want to continue to win elections.

It also creates a paradigm shift in affected communities. Vice President Harris’ bid to become the first woman of color to win the presidency has drawn unprecedented support from all levels of the black elite and intelligentsia. The fact that it was defeated thanks to more black defections than expected should cause the powers that be to recalibrate. How will they integrate these defectors into their spheres of influence? Their credibility is at stake if they don’t. Trump has had extraordinary results among black men under 40. If black institutions refuse to reach out to these voters, the long-term consequences could be devastating for their sustainability.

Competition for black votes is a good thing, however. Without it, one side may ignore you while the other takes you for granted. As political strategist Jerry Primm told me: “This should be a wake-up call to the entire political system that the black community can no longer be ignored.” Pats on the head and prayer breakfasts are no longer enough. vote like you do for everyone else.

In 2021, the current vice president-elect J.D. Vance said me that his desire was to unite working-class black, white and Hispanic voters in the Republican coalition. Last night’s historic victory gives them the opportunity to do just that.

Republican leaders have said they want to transform the GOP into a multicultural, multiracial working-class party. Well, the voters just gave them a mandate. Now we’ll all wait to see what they do with it.

Darvio Morrow is CEO of the FCB Radio Network and co-host of The Outlaws radio show.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.