This is the kind of on-paper progress that people are starting to lose faith in. Obviously if Kansas Dems can block an abortion ban that's great, but the rest? If the Dems get one more senator, why should we expect that they will suddenly do things in the senate when they refuse to do anything now with the senators they have? In the case of Taddeo that's surely actually worse for the state-- Florida is losing a state senator (which will probably be very important very soon) in exchange for another House member which the Dems already control and don't do anything with.
To your point that Dems may still be able to block Republicans in the senate when they lose big, that's not enough either. That is actually a worse version of the way things are right now, and currently more bad things are actively happening then there were under Trump with a republican house and senate. Pointing to numbers going up isn't motivating or satisfying when those numbers going up doesn't stop things from getting worse.
The rest?
- Michigan Dems are supporting a vote to constitutionally protect abortion rights in MI
- California, Illinois, & New York Dems are working to protect bortion rights in their states' constitution
- Wisconsin Dems got Evers to agree to pardon anyone that gets charged on Wisconsin's current ban. Since they are far from a majority.
- Pennsylvania Dems currently have blocked GOP attempts to ban abortion, Shapiro has said he will continue to do as such as elected. Virginia Senate Dems are also currently blocking Youngkin from getting his ban through the state senate.
- Connecticut Dems just some months ago expanded abortion rights in the state. Maryland Dems did the same just some days ago. Colorado Dems are also working on doing the same at the moment.
- New Jersey Dems just recently expanded their laws and are protecting out of state women that need an abortion.
- Texas Dem leaning District Attorneys has said they will not apply the current law.
- Oregon, Washington, Montana, Florida, Rhode Island, Massachusetts Dems already did their work in the past.
- House Democrats passed a bill codifying Roe v. Wade in May, and Pelosi recently sent a "Dear Colleague" letter with more measures.
- Biden ordered DHHS to have more stock of mifepristone and other abortives; and the DoJ to be on watch for those that want to violate Interstate travel clauses.
While Dems have indeed been useless in a long range of issues, abortion rights have not been one of those. Both state and national Democrats have done all that is possible within their power to protect abortion rights and access where they can. A corporate bought coal baron from West Virginia does not change that. Which is literally the lone holdup for US Senate Dems, even if the filibuster was nuked. Since the mentioned House bill failed 49 - 51 because of Manchin's vote.
In Taddeo's case. It is important Dems also run good candidates for US House Districts. Even more, when said candidates have good chances against MAGA lunatics like Salazar. And huh? The House has done its job, from abortion rights, the Equality Act, Voting Rights, D.C. Statehood, the George Floyd Justice & Policing Act and so on. The lone holdup has been the Senate.
Huh? The reference to the 2018 midterm was purely on how Congress control may look after the midterms. And yes, because we are seeing the effect of that trifecta and Senate majority today. The same way Trump rode the coattails of Obama's economic recovery. A President's and Congress' effects are felt and cause damage for years afterwards. It has been one of the easiest ways, and the usual go-to, for a party to manipulate future elections if they know the most recent is a certain lose.
Prime example, here in PR. The 2009 - 2012 Republican* leaning governor gets the legislature to approve over $10B in loans all to be repayed entirely in 2016, when he knew he was going to lose. The following governor has to declare bankruptcy, do budget cuts, and PROMESA happens. End result? The previous governor's party retakes the Governor's mansion and get supermajorities in both chambers of our legislature. Supermajorities that almost survived as regular majorities even after a horrendous term in which the elected governor for the term had been ousted.