Don’t overlook conservatism’s big wins in 2022
OPINION:
As 2022 comes to an end, we are closing out a momentous year in American politics. We’ve witnessed a lot: the end of Roe, a glut of post-Roe legislation, an important midterm election, and the chaotic rise, fall and transfer of enormous financial and political powers.
It’s been a trying year in some ways for those watching from the sidelines, let alone those involved in making these changes happen. There’s a lot to learn from, and even more work left for us in the coming year. But it’s important not to let the victories of 2022 pass by without celebration.
1. Conservative governors stepped up
One of the most obvious gubernatorial successes from 2022 is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He called mega-corporation Disney’s bluff after they pushed to repeal a Florida parental rights law he had recently signed. He’s also enacted a series of strong election integrity measures, moved to defend free speech and unborn life.
He’s not the only one, of course — and he won’t be the last. Governors work at the front lines of the new pro-life battle. In Indiana, West Virginia and Texas, for example, we’ve seen state-level leadership make great strides toward developing the policies of a post-Roe America.
2. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade
Relatedly, we saw the Supreme Court overturn the atrocious precedent established almost 50 years ago by Roe V. Wade. After decades of movement-wide effort, we succeeded in overthrowing an egregiously and unjustly pro-abortion legal regime.
It’s difficult to overstate the significance of this particular success, or the amount of work left to us. The end of Roe wasn’t the end of abortion, but it was the beginning of real protections for the unborn. Over a dozen states dramatically limited abortion access, and still more are fighting for the ability to do so.
3. Elon Musk bought Twitter — a massive win for free speech
After years of escalating censorship and unjust, arbitrary user bans, Twitter was forced to hand over the reins to Elon Musk.
Musk has reinstated countless users who were purged from the platform for dissenting openly from the reigning political orthodoxies. He’s also publicly committed himself to transparency in decision-making and development — including the release of the “Twitter Files,” which document political scandals like the suppression of Hunter Biden’s laptop.
4. Pelosi’s historic 20-year reign finally ended
It’s hard to understate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s impact during her two decades in power. It’s similarly hard to understate how important it is that she has resigned as Speaker, making way for new Democratic House leadership in the wake of 2022’s midterms.
She and her staff were ruthless, effective and experienced. They posed a major challenge for any conservative in politics, and helped execute increasingly radical left-wing policies. Her resignation coincides with a new Republican majority in the House. Though the margins are slim, they are essential and unquestionably worth celebrating. We can only hope that a post-Pelosi House is more balanced, more fruitful and more civil.
And so, at the end of 2022 — and the start of a new year — we have much to be grateful for. American conservatives have accomplished a lot in a single year, and we have a clear mission ahead of us for the next.
Here’s to the making of an equally historic 2023.
• Timothy Head is the executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.
