Democrats won big on election night. They achieved their primary goal of retaking the House. Finally America might have a check on Donald Trump’s total disregard for norms, customs and the rule of law itself.
The much-anticipated “blue wave” did materialize. Democrats flipped over 30 House seats, took seven gubernatorial races (and counting), and made significant gains in down ballot races—winning over 260 state legislative seats with more to come.
But many Democrats are not celebrating their big night. Perhaps it’s because the “blue wave” came with a harsh red undertow.
Three red-state senators lost their races, giving Republicans greater control of the Senate. Two charismatic Democratic candidates – Beta O’Rourke in Texas and Andrew Gillum in Florida, lost their election bids, though narrowly.
What the midterms clearly revealed is that we are a divided nation mostly separated along urban-rural lines.
Defeated Claire MaCaskill of Missouri perhaps said it best: “The further you get from metropolitan areas, the more powerful Donald Trump is and the more allegiance there is to whatever he says or does.”
As Robert L. Borosage of The Nation writes, “Republicans are increasingly the party of rural, white, non-college-educated males, and aging and evangelical voters.” This so-called “Trump base” was susceptible to “Trump’s manic, unhinged, dishonest, and scurrilous campaigning…No doubt his blend of hate and fear helped build Republican turnout.”
But change may be in the air. Democrats made dramatic advances in formerly Republican suburbs, and in the Midwest, while continuing to gain in the Southwest.
Many Progressive ballot initiatives across the country fared well. The new Democratic House is expected to include 100 women.
Trump incredibly tweeted Tuesday’s election results were a “Big Victory” for him!
The truth is Donald Trump is a con man and more Americans are not falling for the sting.
As Borosage aptly put it, “The 2018 election exposed once more how divided the country is—but it also showed the tide is running against Trump’s hateful brand of politics and the party that he continues to deform.”
Photo | politico.com
