Do not throw in the towel – on politics, or anything: Cynthia Lowrey

I believe in collective energy because I live near Cleveland. Aside from the glory days of LeBron James and the amazing Cavaliers, our city’s unofficial sports nickname might as well be “Almost There.” But I don’t think our general inability to achieve victory lies solely with the players, the owners, or even the stadiums. It has a lot to do with us, the fans — but not in the way you might think.

Energy is everything. Cleveland fans show incredible passion and loyalty on Game Day, but too many of us have been conditioned to believe we’ll get close, yet never quite win it all. You can hear it in our everyday talk: “This season? We’ll see,” “Go Guardians — fingers crossed,” or the endless criticism after trade day. Beneath the cheers, there’s a quiet disbelief that we can truly triumph.

Every great accomplishment in history began not with mere hope, but with certainty and vision. The Allies didn’t just hope to win World War II; they believed victory was inevitable. This unwavering belief grew into a kind of knowingness that won the war. Great movements — from the Romans to the leaders of the French Revolution — acted from conviction, not doubt. You can’t enter a war, or even a game, believing you’ll probably lose, but hoping to be surprised or praying for a miracle.

This mindset has been on my mind lately, not just for sports, but for the state of the Democratic Party in America. Too many friends, family, and acquaintances speak as if they’ve already thrown in the towel before the next political “season” even starts. Before campaigns for 2026 or 2028 truly begin, they’re already predicting defeat or fearing that elections won’t be fair or free. That kind of energy — defeatist, anxious, resigned — creates the very reality we fear. Thoughts can be toxic.

We need to start speaking differently about ourselves and about our candidates. Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown are people of vision, compassion, and integrity, leaders who genuinely care about our safety, strength, prosperity, and happiness. During the pandemic, Dr. Acton stood firm on truth and substance, guiding Ohio through fear and uncertainty with honesty and empathy. She told us what we needed to hear, not what was easiest to say, and she never wavered when leadership mattered most. Sen. Brown has shown that same resilience and conviction, weathering political storms and taking hits to protect the future opportunities and freedoms of Ohio’s current and coming generations. He believes in building a strong foundation for our state that is forward-thinking, fair, and never stuck in the past. Both of them want good things for everyone, not just a few. They have heart, courage, and conviction. We have winners on our side.

Cynthia Lowrey is a lifelong Clevelander who believes in the power of everyday people.Courtesy of Cynthia Lowrey

And because we have winners, we will win — not only because of who they are, but because we can already see the victory. We can envision a future of peace, prosperity, and safety for all. That vision is our power. The other side may thrive on division and fear, but that’s not strength — it’s inward loss disguised as outward noise. Let’s start naming it for what it is: They are losers.

We are the ones building, believing, and creating. We are the winners. The victory begins the moment we believe it — and triumphs when our consistent belief turns into knowingness.

Lowrey is a lifelong Clevelander who believes in the power of everyday people and enjoys the lively conversations on the ‘Today in Ohio’ podcasts.

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