Kamala Harris stands for a diverse, free, inclusive and equal America.

This narrative of racial progress embellished some details (Chief Justice John Roberts would likely have sworn in Harris) and missed some opportunities.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could become the first African-American Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two African-American women could serve simultaneously in the U.S. Senate, something that has never happened.

This is a vision for America that millions of voters have thought about for decades, working for or against its implementation. This election represents a referendum on this fight, on issues of diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging. And to their credit, Democrats are betting their future on these ideals and aspirations.

Two stark versions of America were vividly on display. First, last Sunday in Madison Square Garden in New York, where the echoes of chauvinism were loudly heard.

Crowds cheered the overt bigotry, images of watermelon-loving African-Americans, rock-throwing Muslims and stingy Jews.

Puerto Rico, home to American citizens, was turned into trash, and Mexican men were branded promiscuous childbearers. It was Trumpism distilled. This was shocking because although America had produced many of these stereotypes, there had been a serious, if imperfect, attempt to banish them. In Trump’s version of America, things are different.

Two days later, another US version was shown in Washington on the Ellipse with the White House in the background. A crowd of 75,000 people gathered to retake the area from the anti-democratic mob that laid siege to the Capitol.

Children of all nationalities sat on their parents’ shoulders, waving American flags to see a woman who looked like them. They gathered there to hear Harris, the daughter of immigrants, call on Americans to remember the patriotic activists – at Selma, Seneca Falls, Stonewall – who marched, protested and strived to make this country great for all.

Her campaign is an extension of that fight, a rebuttal to the distracting carnival of conspiracy theories, lies, sexism, racism and the other side’s masculinity.

“Donald Trump spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and fearful of each other. That’s who he is,” Harris said. “But, America, I am here tonight to say that we are not like that. We are not like that! We are not like that! It was a declaration, a hope, a prayer that most Americans would choose to have a broad vision for the nation.

(In its focus on diversity) The Democratic Party forces the country to follow its founding principles of equality and progress. It is an insistence on inclusion and representation that comes with risks.

In 1971, Patrick Buchanan wrote a famous memo called “Dividing the Democrats,” advising the use of racial progress as a motivating factor for Caucasian voters.

“There is nothing that could boost a president’s chances of re-election—not a trip to China, not four-and-a-half percent unemployment—than a realistic black presidential campaign,” Buchanan wrote.

Trump is clearly opposed to social progress, and his rise and current success should rightly be seen as a backlash to the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.

If Trump wins, many will point to Harris’ campaign and argue that she has focused too much on women, hasn’t been tough enough on immigration and crime, and hasn’t been specific enough about her plans.

They’ll say she ignored men, especially working class men, and she should have found time to sit down with podcaster Joe Rogan. They will tell the Democratic Party to introspect, to move to the right, to frankly “not be so black”, so “woke” and so focused on social progress – some of this speculation is already underway. And they will be wrong.

Harris, who will spend election night at her alma mater, Howard University, represents the best of her party, the culmination of everything the party has strived for, sometimes imperfectly.

Her historic victory made millions of Americans nostalgic for the old order and old customs. And her run has energized millions of Americans who want justice, equality and just plain decency.

This unwieldy, multiracial, multigenerational coalition of Americans persists in their vision of a better America, despite the risks and obvious backlash. It’s a good nuisance and a necessary battle. Win or lose, the Democratic Party must not give up on this worthy fight. ©bloomberg