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There are key takeaways from the midterms that must be considered as we head into 2020, both for Republicans and Democrats.
A) Voters generally think the economy is good, but many are rightfully cautious and skeptical. They still perceive the economy as rigged in favor of the wealthy and large corporations and see a need for improvement on this issue.
B) The rust belt is coming home to the Democrats. Blue collar workers in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin aren't necessarily buying Trump's trade policies as helping their plight. Iowans feel especially abandoned. These four states are going to make or break Trump's chances for a second term. It is already more likely than not that Iowa and Pennsylvania will be blue in 2020. Michigan is also a probable flip, Wisconsin is the most likely of the four to remain in the Trump column.
C) The South is indeed changing. For most of the night, Beto led in Texas. Ted Cruz held on thanks to small rural counties that have little growth and many of whose voters may not live until his next reelection bid. It has also been reported that a majority of native-born Texans voted for O'Rourke. The Democrats picked up seats in Texas, including the high-ranking Pete Sessions's seat. Arizona's Senate race has yet to be called but it appears that Democrat Sinema will eek out the win. Democrats picked up seats in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (!). Democrat Mike Espy even came within 2 points of winning a Senate seat in Mississippi, which is now headed for a runoff. The GOP must embrace and adapt to changing demographics in the South, especially as the baby boomer generation gets older and begins to die off.
D) While the Democrats took the House majority, it was not a wave. They sill have inroads to make among Trump supporters and a sizable number of independents. First priority should be dropping the establishment image and make a greater effort to understand the concerns of blue collar workers in places such as Ohio and Indiana.
Overall, it was a good night for both parties.
Last edited by MassTerp94; 11-09-2018 at 10:24 AM..
Politicians are slime-balls. WAIT, we already knew that!
Its the typical ebb and flow of Washington. You will never have a single party in charge for very long.. once you do, our democracy is over.. so pray that NEVER happens.
Dewine R and Brown D won because they are well regarded generally in OH. Both are kind of like old style D and R. Bland Ohio boring and they like em that way. I remember both from my days in OH.
The 2018 election was supposedly going to prove that the 2016 election was an anomaly. It was going to be the election where the American people utterly repudiated the previous election and the presidency of Donald Trump. What it turned out to be was a typical midterm realignment of extremely normal proportions, which was remarkably consistent with trends for midterm elections going back to WWII.
In fact, the losses by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton during their first midterm were far worse than those suffered under President Trump in 2018, and both of those presidents went on to win a second term.
Rather than a repudiation of Trump, it turned out to be a validation of Trump.
The 2018 election was supposedly going to prove that the 2016 election was an anomaly. It was going to be the election where the American people utterly repudiated the previous election and the presidency of Donald Trump. What it turned out to be was a typical midterm realignment of extremely normal, which was remarkably consistent with trends for midterm elections going back to WWII.
In fact, the losses by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton during their first midterm were far worse than those suffered under President Trump in 2018, and both of those presidents went on to win a second term.
Rather than a repudiation of Trump, it turned out to be a validation of Trump.
No it wasn't suppose to show that the 2016 election was an anomaly. Because 2016 wasn't anomaly. It was going to show that most Americans still don't like Trump.
And that's that.
Because of gerrymandering and such Republicans still won the Senate...but once again -- Democrats got the popular vote.EDIT: The Senate was not lost because of gerrmandering...it was because of population distribution. So more states may be Republican but more people vote Democratic. (Thanks for correcting me....I put the wrong label on it).
It reinforced the whole notion that Trump does not have a clear mandate.
It reinforced the whole narrative that the country is deeply divided.
Yes Republicans still control the Senate but they LOST control of the House.
It is very clear -- now more than ever that at least half if not more -- of the country do not support Trump.
It also showed the biggest issues for Americans -- overwhelmingly from exit polls -- was health issue...then immigration then the economy.
So in spite of a good economy Americans are still wanting to see this administration fix the first two problems....which they have made zero inroads on even with controlling the House & the Senate.
Because of gerrymandering and such Republicans still won the Senate...but once again -- Democrats got the popular vote.
This comment reflects such a profound failure of our educational system it is hard to overstate.
Every state gets two senators. That is true if the state has five citizens, or five trillion citizens. Two senators. Gerrymandering effects electoral districts that have to be periodically redrawn. It does not apply to state-wide races. Gerrymandering is not a concept that applies to the US Senate.
There are key takeaways from the midterms that must be considered as we head into 2020, both for Republicans and Democrats.
A) Voters generally think the economy is good, but many are rightfully cautious and skeptical. They still perceive the economy as rigged in favor of the wealthy and large corporations and see a need for improvement on this issue.
B) The rust belt is coming home to the Democrats. Blue collar workers in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin aren't necessarily buying Trump's trade policies as helping their plight. Iowans feel especially abandoned. These four states are going to make or break Trump's chances for a second term. It is already more likely than not that Iowa and Pennsylvania will be blue in 2020. Michigan is also a probably flip, Wisconsin is the most likely of the four to remain in the Trump column.
C) The South is indeed changing. For most of the night, Beto led in Texas. Ted Cruz held on thanks to small rural counties that have little growth and many of whose voters may not live until his next reelection bid. It has also been reported that a majority of native-born Texans voted for O'Rourke. The Democrats picked up seats in Texas, including the high-ranking Pete Sessions's seat. Arizona's Senate race has yet to be called but it appears that Democrat Sinema will eek out the win. Democrats picked up seats in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (!). Democrat Mike Espy even came within 2 points of winning a Senate seat in Mississippi, which is now headed for a runoff. The GOP must embrace and adapt to changing demographics in the South, especially as the baby boomer generation gets older and begins to die off.
D) While the Democrats took the House majority, it was not a wave. They sill have inroads to make among Trump supporters and a sizable number of independents. First priority should be dropping the establishment image and make a greater effort to understand the concerns of blue collar workers in places such as Ohio and Indiana.
Overall, it was a good night for both parties.
2020 will be key. While the Democrats are no prize, at this point in history they're the best option we have. We need a blue wave, as the Republican party has completely gone off the deep end. We can't let the Republicans further gerrymander the **** out of the country. Democrats won a narrow majority in spite of Republican advantages. Dems need to be on the ball, and not let Republicans take state legislatures and ensure that district lines get redrawn even further to their advantage. People can cry TDS all they want at this point, I don't care, we're at war for the soul of our country and Trump is the greatest threat to our democracy ever embodied in a U.S. politician. People should be alarmed by the actions of this con artist, wannabe dictator we have for a President.
This is a slow-moving right wing coup that has been moving steadily forward since Obama was elected. Let's get 'em libs (who at this point are the only true moderates left).
This comment reflects such a profound failure of our educational system it is hard to overstate.
Every state gets two senators. That is true if the state has five citizens, or five trillion citizens. Two senators. Gerrymandering effects electoral districts that have to be periodically redrawn. It does not apply to state-wide races. Gerrymandering is not a concept that applies to the US Senate.
You are right. I was NOT schooled in American politics. I'm a Canadian who moved here and I misspoke.
I know better...it wasn't gerrymandering -- it's the distribution of populations...so a state like California only gets 2 senators even though the population is way bigger than Wyoming...and that's why.
I misspoke. Thank you for correcting me.
And I bet I would do better with Canadian politics than you because that's my education -- lol.
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