Democrats win in several states on abortion rights and other highlights from Tuesday's elections

[Dulcinea]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year elections and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.

Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist. A Democrat won an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights. And Democrats took full control of the Virginia statehouse, blocking Republicans from being able to pass new abortion restrictions and delivering a defeat to Gov. Glenn Youngkin that may douse any buzz about a late entry into the GOP presidential primary.

The victories won’t be enough to make Democrats feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications in all of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot this time. How Americans view them will be a huge factor in shaping next year’s race.

https://apnews.com/article/election-2023-highlights-868a21bf3537a0533ae3fd8007d07eef

[EarlG]

1. Had to chuckle at this paragraph

The victories won’t be enough to make Democrats feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications in all of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot this time. How Americans view them will be a huge factor in shaping next year’s race.

Now that Democrats have crushed it in a series of major elections the media is all, “Oh, but of course this is not a referendum on Joe Biden.”

I’m sure they would have said the exact same thing if Republicans had done well last night (not).

[ffr]

3. Exactly! Great point made EarlG. Where are the headlines that last night's victories were a referencum on JB's

policies!!! Like you say, those would have been the headlines had a republican been in the WH.

[Cheezoholic]

4. I spent more than a few hours randomly picking small toen races across the country

200 I think in my notebook as I couldn't volunteer at the polls for the first time since 84 and was bored. There was definitely a mini blue ripple across small town America. Can't give exact counts, definitely not scientific lol, but there were definite signs, especially city councils.

One thing I noticed, and unfortunately is usually the case in this country, in states with bigger ticket abortion rights or governor races there were exponentially large turnouts (look at Mississippi), especially Democrats. But still without "a big deal" on a ticket it was dismal at best. I mean towns with 10k residents and less than 1500 sometimes 1k voted. These are places Democrats can hit IMO. Repukes have taken these small towns one by one slowly over the last 40 years and they now take them for granted.

There's a little town of 700 people about 7 miles from me. 70 people voted and the incumbent Republican mayor beat the Dem challenger by 1 vote. Yes its not a lot of votes but if the Dems could use the web, spare some change and some professional party workers to fan out across the country and give local in person training courses on how to run for office, give folks some tools, I guarantee it will inspire that one person in that one small town that has always thought itd be impossible or useless. We could really start chipping away at that repuke fundamentalist raping of what used to be our base and take it back, especially young folks who now have access to the world from there one stoplight town..

With the coming resurgence of investment back into our country, the revival of US factories and Unions and with Joe (fuck these year out polls) already out there hitting and inspiring these small town folks (look what happened in KY) we can start to bury these fascists. Sure, the big cities and states are very important but they wont stand until we shore up and get back our common citizen foundation. They've changed and are ready for the 21st century. With the repukes so focused on their selfish DC selves right now yesterdays ripple could slowly become a blue tsunami they wont see until it hits the beach of Democracy a year from now.

[redqueen]

5. They know which side their bread is buttered on. nt

[onetexan]

8. AP's not known to be friendly to Dems

Their articles are almost always slanted.

[Ray Bruns]

2. This is hilarious

The people who have been screaming about getting the government out of people’s lives are upset that people voted to keep the government out of people’s lives.

[calimary]

6. THIS!

TOTALLY 100% THIS!

Hey, wrong-wingers: get yer ass OUT of our BEDROOMS!!!

Hey Republicans, STOP trying to be body snatchers!

Just STOP.

Give. It. Up.

Our bodies are OUR OWN. STOP trying to be body snatchers.

On second thought…

Ray Bruns, it is ironic as hell, as you do clearly and cleverly observed:

“The people who have been screaming about getting the government out of people’s lives are upset that people voted to keep the government out of people’s lives.”

[calimary]

7. I'd go even farther. Let's make a deal, Republicans:

You want women sent back to the 18th century (when we were on the same level as the horse in yer stable: property)?

Well then, men, you go back to the 18th century, too. And welcome to the world of the si file-fire pistol and blunderbuss, cuz that’s what there was in the 18th century.

Hey GOP, You wanna turn back time for women? That goes for YOURSELVES, TOO.