Some Thoughts About Last Night's Election

Last night was good for Democrats overall nationally. Seven governorships plus Guam, several state legislatures, the U.S. House. The GOP still has the Senate, but they didn't have that many seats to defend.

I was happy Governor Walker of Wisconsin was tossed out. Ditto for Senator Dean Heller of Nevada.

Lots and lots to celebrate even with a few disappointments. Now Democrats can work on increasing their majorities in the House and state legislatures in 2020, and retake the WH and Senate as well.

Jacky Rosen beat incumbent senator Dean Heller last night, as has long been expected.  That means both of Nevada's senators will be women come January.  Catherine Cortez-Masto is the other senator. She got elected to the seat when Harry Reid retired.

I lived in Nevada for so many years, during which time I had seen the dramatic change politically that state.  When I had first moved there in 1984, it was heavily red.  The state historically would flip back and forth from red to blue although blue politicians tended to be moderate or even conservative in outlook.  Reagan was hugely popular in the state.  Paul Laxalt, who recently passed away, was one of Reagan's closest friends, and of course Laxalt was a politician of long standing.  He had kind of a machine in the state, with his aide Barbara Vucanovich, who also passed away a few years ago, and Chic Hecht taking House and Senate seats, respectively.  It didn't last forever, however.  More people started moving to Nevada from other states, especially California, and the political landscape really started changing.  The state and county Democratic parties in Clark and Washoe started being real competition, and I feel grateful I had the opportunity to be somewhat active in Washoe County in their party.  Some of the happiest experiences of my life were when I was involved in the campaigns and attending the numerous rallies.  The only stickler is the second congressional district there, which is much like Oregon's second.  Since it was created in 1980, a Democrat has never won there.  The other congressional seats are centered around Clark County.

As an addendum, dirtbag and pimp Dennis Hof, who died a couple of weeks ago, "won" a seat to the Nevada Assembly.  Another Republican will have to take his place or else there will have to be a special election.

Also I want to add Steve Sioslak became the first Democrat since Bob Miller in 1994 to win the Nevada governor's race.  He replaces incumbent Brian Sandoval, who was ineligible to run for another term.  He defeated state attorney general Adam Laxalt for the job.

Apparently there will be a recount in Florida in the Florida U.S. Senate race between Rick Scott and incumbent Bill Nelson   although Scott is claiming victory.

Ted Cruz got re-elected in Texas, but he had a hell of a strong challenger in Representative Beto O'Rourke.  While a win is still a win, of course, the fact a Democratic opponent came so close, and the fact several Texas House seats flipped, is a great sign as to what will happen in future elections as long as the Russians and the Kochs quit meddling in our elections.  Texas historically has had a strong progressive streak, but this was before the Karl Rove era where the GOP took hold of the state and still control it.

O'Rourke is now being touted as presidential material for 2020.  It might be a bit premature.  O'Rourke narrowly lost to Cruz by a mere two percent.  That is in a state where Cruz should have won by ten points or more.

O'Rourke gave a concession speech:

Tony Evers is now governor of Wisconsin.  He narrowly beat fascist and Koch puppet Scott Walker.  Perhaps now he can help undo all the damage Walker did to unions and to the public sector.

Michigan also went heavily blue, and a Democrat took the governorship.  Ditto again about the state undoing the damage by Koch-backed fascists.

Gavin Newsom easily won election as the next governor of California.  He defeated Republican John Cox.