November, 2018 - Despite Donald Trump's attempt to spin 2018's mid-term elections as "very close to a complete victory" for his side, results from across the nation reflected the "blue wave" many had predicted. We'll continue to update these results as more races are finalized, but as of today:

US House: Democrats have flipped 40 House seats and taken control of the US House of Representatives. This, despite facing what almost all observers characterized as the most gerrymandered Republican House districts in US history. Two of the primary reasons cited for the Dems' success included dissatisfaction with Mr. Trump in America's suburban areas and the fact that most Republicans repeatedly voted against affordable healthcare options for people with pre-existing conditions.

(image from getty.org)

Ex-CIA operative Abigail Spanberger, who defeated Tea Party favorite David Brat in Virginia's 7th CD, was one of many first-time Dem candidates

Governorships: Democrats flipped seven Governorships: Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wisconsin, all but the latter by comfortable margins.

State Legislatures: Democrats flipped over 300 state legislative seats, which won them control of six legislative chambers and cost the GOP super-majorites in 4 chambers.

US Senate: Republicans increased their Senate majority by only 2 seats (following the Democratic win in Arizona, but still considering Florida as a Republican gain, even though the latter vote is so close it is in the midst of a manual recount). Given that Democrats (and independents) were defending 26 of the 35 Senate seats being contested and that many of those elections were in states that Mr. Trump had won handily in 2016, these results were a surprise only to the extent that the GOP was not victorious in more races.

(image from politico.com)

Pro-gun Democrat Jon Tester won re-election in Montana despite numerous anti-Tester visits to Big Sky country by Donald Trump

Ballot Initiatives: In addition to the aforementioned victories for Democratic candidates, progressive policy positions and values were big winners around the country on Tuesday. A sample of these ballot measures included the following:

Minimum Wage: Two reliably red states in recent years, Missouri and Arkansas, both voted to increase the minimum wage. In Arkansas, voters raised their state's minimum wage for the second time in four years; this time around the existing $8.50 per hour wage will rise to $11. In Missouri, voters said yes to a $4.15 increase. We'll see if the Republican-led Missouri legislature will try to deny the voters' wishes again, as they did following the St. Louis minimum wage increase in 2016.

Medicaid Expansion: With many Republican state governments around the country refusing to take federal money available through the Affordable Care Act to expand the number of Medicaid recipients in their states, it fell on the voters to override some of those GOP decisions. Two more red states, Nebraska and Idaho (with Utah being a possible third), saw their Citizens say yes to Medicaid expansion.

(image from deadlinedetroit.com)

Democracy: Voters in Michigan approved Proposal 2 which establishes a commission independent of the state legislature to draw legislative and Congressional districts. Following the GOP takeover of the Michigan statehouse in 2010, Michigan's districts are some of the most gerrymandered in the nation. Colorado and Missouri also voted to implement or strengthen independent re-districting, with the Missouri proposal also including campaign finance and lobbying reforms.

In Florida, by a margin of almost 30%, voters agreed that released felons (except for murderers and sex offenders) should have their voting rights restored. Florida currently is one of only four states that does not allow released felons to vote. This proposal saw widespread bi-partisan support, ranging from Ben & Jerry's on the left to the far-right Koch brothers on the conservative side of the political spectrum.

In North Carolina, voters rejected two Republican proposals that would have moved the filling of judicial vacancies and the appointment of the State Board of Elections from the Governor (now held by Democrat Roy Cooper) to the Legislature (heavily Republican since the GOP's illegal gerrymandering earlier this decade).

Marijuana: In the country's continuing move to legalize pot, Michigan agreed that its Citizens may possess marijuana for recreational purposes and in Missouri, voters approved a measure to allow marijuana usage for medicinal purposes.

After reading some of these results, you may be wondering the same thing we are: what's up with Missouri? Voters passed three progressive ballot proposals but didn't re-elect Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. Be sure and send your Missouri friends to us so we can 'splain a few things to them before 2020 rolls around.

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