Roughly two months ago, we explored the question of whether Republicans were headed for a "wave" election victory in 2014.The results are in, and the verdict is unequivocal: Yes. As of this writing -- in the wee hours of the morning -- Republicans appear poised to win their largest House majority in well over half a century. They have won the United States Senate by a decisive margin, netting eight seats outright, with a ninth almost certainly on the way. They will actually gain a number of governorships -- building on their already-remarkable 30-20 advantage. And they've expanded their dominance of state-level legislative chambers. A comprehensive blowout.
There are many things for conservatives to celebrate. An incomplete list, in no particular order:
(1) Senators-elect Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst, and Thom Tillis are all winners of formerly-blue seats in states carried by Barack Obama at least once. Gardner tossed a perfect game in his race, beating Sen. Mark "Uterus" Udall soundly (by six points, with 89 percent of the vote counted). He neutralized the "war on women" nonsense and outperformed among Latinos. The national party should turn Gardner's win into a case study. Joni Ernst dominated Bruce Braley, winning by eight points.
Adding insult to injury, Democrats also lost Braley's House seat. These 'precriminations' told the story. And Thom Tillis, who trailed in the polling average for the entire race, came from behind and ousted Kay Hagan.
(2) The last time Republicans defeated more than two incumbent Democratic Senators in one election cycle was 1980. In 2014, they've gotten four (Pryor, Udall, Hagan, Begich), with a fifth -- Mary Landrieu -- looking like a sitting duck. Landrieu garnered just 42 percent of the vote in Louisiana, compared to 55 percent for her two GOP rivals. She will need a miracle to win the December 6 runoff.
(3) The polls were, in fact, skewed. Toward Democrats. Significantly. Mitch McConnell won by 15 points in Kentucky. David Perdue beat Michelle Nunn by 13 points, easily avoiding a run-off. Tom Cotton absolutely destroyed Mark Pryor. Tillis wasn't supposed to win. The polls were way off in all of these races. And, I'm happy to add, the disgusting race-baiting failed.
(4) If the GOP takes Louisiana as expected, and if Maine independent Angus King decides to caucus with Republicans -- which he's reportedly open to doing -- the party will control 55 seats in January. Republicans were at a 60-40 disadvantage in the upper chamber as recently as early 2010. That's a breathtaking turnaround, mirroring Democrats' Senate gains from 2004 to 2008. Question: Might Sen. Joe Manchin be thinking about pulling a Jim Jeffords and switching parties, given what just happened in his state? That would be 56.
(5) Democrats insisted that Obamacare was not a big issue in this campaign. Republicans' campaigns blew that theory out of the water…and then there's this (a tally that doesn't include Begich or Landrieu):
almost half! MT @mkhammer: Damn. RT @philipaklein: w/ Hagan’s loss: 27 senators who voted for Obamacare won't be part of new Senate
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 5, 2014
(6) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has now beaten the Left
three times in four years. And each win has built on the last. He
beat Mary Burke by nearly seven points in a race that was supposedly
"tied" two weeks ago. The Marquette poll
nailed it again. Walker has been rewarded by voters for his courageous
and successful governance in a state that hasn't been carried by a
Republican presidential ticket in decades. And this perspective is just delicious:
So Charlie Crist lost as many races as Scott Walker won in the last four years.
— Daniel Ehlers (@DanielEhlers) November 5, 2014
Three Crist losses, with three different parties. Good riddance.(7) Speaking of governors, that category of races contained the night's most stunning outcomes. I thought a very optimistic projection would be a break-even hold of 30 governorships for the GOP.
Nope. They gained ground, losing only Pennsylvania. They
held serve in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Maine (!), and
Kansas (!!), while picking off Democrat-held governorships in Arkansas,
Massachusetts, Maryland (perhaps the biggest shocker
of the whole night), and Barack Obama's home state of Illinois. Obama
campaigned for the losing candidates in the latter two states.
As I
write this, Connecticut and Colorado are still too close to call (both
trending Dem). Both would be pick-ups for Republicans. The GOP looks
like it will occupy at least 33 governor's mansions starting next year,
to the Democrats' 17. Weren't Republicans supposed to be a "regional party"? John Kasich won Ohio by more than 30 points. Brian Sandoval's margin in Nevada is just silly. Kudos all around to Chris Christie and the RGA. Oh, and enjoy:
(8) Republicans still have a long way to go in making inroads with minorities and young women -- and they shouldn't over-interpret this 2014 romp as a "false positive" for 2016 -- but several victories are worth highlighting. The conservative voters of South Carolina elected Tim Scott to his first full term as a US Senator by a huge margin. Scott is the first African-American elected to the Senate from a Southern state since Reconstruction. That's uplifting, and it busts some self-serving, race-baiting lefty narratives. In New York, Republican Elise Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, at age 30. Her race was a blowout. In Utah, Mia Love won a hard-fought victory, becoming the first black female Republican to serve in Congress. In West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito became the first GOP Senator from her state since the 1950's, and its first woman Senator ever. And Joni Ernst is the first woman to win any Iowa election for governor, US Senate, or the House of Representatives.
(9) Harry Reid has been demoted. And despite the beat-down over which he presided, he will be running for Minority Leader.
(10) Barack Obama, unchastened:
Greg Abbott got nearly a million more votes than Wendy Davis. A million!
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) November 5, 2014
Media darling/Abortion warrior Wendy Davis lost Texas by more than 20 points. Greg Abbott won women by nine points, based on exit polls, and annihilated Davis among white women. Abbott also carried a very respectable chunk of the Hispanic vote. And Davis' State Senate seat has been won by a pro-life conservative woman. Savor that one.(8) Republicans still have a long way to go in making inroads with minorities and young women -- and they shouldn't over-interpret this 2014 romp as a "false positive" for 2016 -- but several victories are worth highlighting. The conservative voters of South Carolina elected Tim Scott to his first full term as a US Senator by a huge margin. Scott is the first African-American elected to the Senate from a Southern state since Reconstruction. That's uplifting, and it busts some self-serving, race-baiting lefty narratives. In New York, Republican Elise Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, at age 30. Her race was a blowout. In Utah, Mia Love won a hard-fought victory, becoming the first black female Republican to serve in Congress. In West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito became the first GOP Senator from her state since the 1950's, and its first woman Senator ever. And Joni Ernst is the first woman to win any Iowa election for governor, US Senate, or the House of Representatives.
(9) Harry Reid has been demoted. And despite the beat-down over which he presided, he will be running for Minority Leader.
(10) Barack Obama, unchastened:
---> RT: @peterbakernyt “He doesn’t feel repudiated,” Obama official says. http://t.co/YfXlri4qyK …
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 5, 2014
"Amazingly, the White House is not putting out a statement tonight congratulating Republicans" --@Acosta on #CNNElection
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 5, 2014
Over to you, Senator Obama:
Sen Obama after '06 Dem takeover: "If Pres Bush is stubborn, refuses to take signals from the election..." http://t.co/OI2LOyuzA7
— Morgen (@morgenr) November 5, 2014
Perfect.
All I can say is, this just HAS to be more republican voter fraud. I refuse to believe that there's this many stupid people in my country; the right-wingers signing up illegals and dead people to vote is the only plausible explanation.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, neither the DFlers or the GOP have been convicted in aiding or participating in voter fraud. So both arguments are invalid, once again. Thanks for trying, though.
DeleteIf you want to talk about Republican precinct fraud and scandals, however, I'd be happy to remind you of the Watergate Hotel.
I know Diane probably told you it never happened, and you probably believed her, but look it up from a credible source please. And no, an uneducated, hilarious redneck "blogger" named Diane doesn't count as a credible source.
Not sure how the GOP thinks this is some huge victory. Before, the House blocked all of Obama's legislation. Now, Obama will just block GOP promoted bills, or the Senate Democrats will veto (given the GOP doesn't have veto power - need 60 to achieve)
ReplyDeleteNothing's changed, this just spells two more years of nothing in Congress. Not thrilled by any means with the POTUS, but the do-nothing Congress isn't helping.
I thought you had been banned! Oh well...here you are again!
DeleteWe might put the question to you; with over 300 bills that dingy harry hasn't sent over, what will obama do?
The NY Post said the emporer is naked now! He is exposed for what he is. He can't hide anymore.
He needs to answer a few question now...who is going to pay for all of HIS illegal children? Why don't you have a budget Mr. President? My question: Mr president...could you do one thing in your administration that is LEGAL, or is that beyond your capability?
Off to work to pay for all you liberals to sit on your asses and think of ways to spend MY money!
Yup, it's me, taking full advantage of my free speech rights and NOT being banned from commenting (since that would be contrary to your platform's ideology, right?)
DeleteExactly - actually, thank you for this post (not sarcastic). We can finally see what will happen when Obama has to veto bills and be on the defensive, rather than just see his propositions killed in the House.
I'm just saying it's no huge victory for the GOP...it just means 2 more years of nothing in Congress. That's all the last several years have been anyway..
Side-note, with relatives in Wisconsin, they can attest to Scott Walker's incompetence as Governor. Interestedly enough, he won the majority of his votes from voters in the upper 10% of Wisconsin's annual income bracket.
ReplyDeleteFunny, isn't it, how the rich vote Republican, yet the poor always vote DFL? It's almost like Republicans don't care about equality...
Oh, wait, that's exactly what it is. And don't even get me started on the Tea Party, lord help us all.