The Right Track: Election Day is over. America isn’t.

As I drove to various polling places Tuesday in Texas, where the temperatures have finally cooled a bit, I couldn’t help but feel thankful to be an American and to live in a country where voting is a core right.
I’m still digging into the election results, but Donald Trump’s stunning win and Republicans’ takeover of the Senate make clear that Americans have strongly rebuked progressives. 
Election Day is one of those rare moments in America, where we come together in a sense, even if we’re not voting for the same candidate. Voting is no respecter of gender, sex, race or creed. Young or old, immigrant or natural-born citizen, whether it’s your first time voting or your 1, if you’re eligible, you can vote. That’s a stunning right and responsibility. It will never get old to me, and I hope I never take it for granted.
On Tuesday, I watched as several battleground states reported voting-related problems, glitches or even crimes. I wish voting were foolproof and all votes were counted accurately in every state by election night. That’s certainly a goal worth striving for. But we’re a huge nation; more than 158 million people voted in the 2020 presidential election. That’s a lot of votes to count.
My colleague Ingrid Jacques observed that despite what critics like to say, our democracy will survive this year’s election.
“Call me a dreamer, but I’m not too worried about the future of our democracy regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidential election Tuesday,” she wrote. “I have no doubt there will be protests across the country, no matter who is the victor, and that’s concerning. Yet, I also have faith that our system of government will survive.”
Ingrid Jacques: Trump wins again.Will Democrats now practice what they’ve preached on democracy?
I couldn’t agree more.
I voted for Trump, despite significant reservations. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a Republican in the White House with a Republican-controlled Senate.
But politics isn’t everything or the only thing. I believe this strongly, especially as a Christian. 
It’s important to stand firm in your beliefs, but they don’t need to divide us, our neighbors, or family and friends. I put myself through what I call the barbecue test. On what issue or candidate do I draw the line and say: No, I can’t have my neighbor over for a barbecue because of political views?
Let’s try to be thankful for our messy democracy and remember politics needn’t divide us. Our democracy and our nation will survive. Let’s pull together.