Gay New York Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) weighed in on Democrats disastrous performance in last weeks election, saying the results reflected wishful thinking on the part of the party, supporters, and the media.Surprised? No, I was not surprised, Torres, who represents a majority Black and Latino working-class district in the Bronx, told The Atlantic. Much of my side in politics, and much of the media, was in a state of self-deception. We confused analysis with wishful thinking. Related The type of nation I wish I lived in The U.S. isnt the freest or most progressive country in the world, but heres what it might look like if it were Torres said Democratic nominee Kamala Harris ran a vigorous and effective campaign but couldnt overcome the reality of voters dissatisfaction with the post-pandemic economy. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today A majority of Americans disapprove of Bidens performance and felt they were worse off, Torres said. Harris, was not responsible for the inflation, but objectively, that was a near-insurmountable disadvantage.But Torres also pointed to Democrats alienation from the working-class voters that swept Trump to an electoral college victory and the first popular vote win for a Republican in 20 years.Donald Trump had no greater friend than the far left, Torres said, which alienated historic numbers of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Jews with absurdities like Defund the police or From the river to the sea or Latinx. The term Latinx, in particular, has been under fire since before the election. Marcel Roman, a Harvard government professor,said hes discovered Latino voters deeply dislike the sobriquet, which he described as part of a political education meant to root out queerphobia in Latino communities.Arizona Senate candidate and current U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) banned the term in congressional communications and by canvassers who reached out to voters on the campaign trail this year. When Latino politicos use the term it is largely to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias, Gallego tweeted in 2021. With 92% of the vote in, Gallego currently leads Republican challenger Kari Lake by about 80,000 votes, according to the AP.Its just important that white liberals dont impose their thoughts and policies on us, Gallego told The Atlantic. The League of United Latin American Citizens, the countrys oldest Latino advocacy group, has dropped Latinx, as well.The reality is, there is very little to no support for its use, and its sort of seen as something used inside the Beltway or in Ivy League tower settings, Garca told NBC News.Torres was clear-eyed about the message a majority of voters sent across the country and in his own district.He remains a progressive Democrat on economic issues, fundamental rights, and the effects of a broken immigration system addressing the needs of undocumented workers in the Bronx is a regular part of his job but says, You have to recognize that in a democracy, public opinion matters. He added, We cannot just assume that we can reshape the world in a utopian way.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.