Election Thoughts and Consequences

Not A Mandate (But So What?)

The talk is that the economy (Democrats passed major legislation to improve it, it improved, structural problems won't magically be erased, and Harris actually had policies to address it) and immigration (unauthorized immigration dropped and Trump blocked a major immigration bill backed by Democrats) were major drivers in the election of a thin Republican trifecta. Things to think about when we keep on getting lessons on how to win. 

The Republicans do not have some grand "mandate" akin to the Democrats in 2008 where Obama won by much larger margins, the Democrats had a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and more than a handful majority in the House. And, Obama was alleged not to be a citizen, and losing one senator was put out there as a reason to toss out the Affordable Care Act.  

As Kevin Kruse notes in an earlier link, "mandate" has a rhetorical value, which is why Republicans are tossing it out there. Reasonably, it means a large win, though I guess a trifecta arguably works. 

Still. If a thin electoral victory is a "mandate," the word loses much force. OTOH, as Kruse also notes, power is the bottom line. So, perhaps, on some level, the Republicans are right. If not willing to be consistent. What else is new there? 

Staying Home 

Trump winning the popular vote, plurality-wise at the very least, was helped by a big drop-off from Biden to Harris, including in places like New York City. We can explain it by racism/sexism/whatever (policy/vibes also factor in), but the number of people not voting that voted for Biden could have won the election for Harris. This is an epic voter fail.

Some people rather not apportion blame here but like a manager only getting special kudos when the team does good, that doesn't work. "We the People" have the power in a republic. And, the responsibility.  

The numbers are not final but it looks like Trump gained votes from last time but in no way high enough numbers that it reached the Biden margin of victory. The assorted third-party candidates had the balance of power. Trump's coattails may have helped in the Pennsylvania Senate race, which was quite close. 

The House races were basically a wash. The Democrats lost two good men from red state Senate slots. They had various good state results, including in judicial elections. Democrats manage to win statewide offices in red states. They still need to find a way to win red-state U.S. Senate races.  

Anti-Trans Bigotry

Other than some dubious Cabinet picks and starting on a bad foot ethically and integrity-wise, the first thing that Republicans did with their mandate was transphobia. Erin Reed is a good source here. 

I covered this earlier but it warrants a repeat in this general election round-up. Republicans do not deserve political control for this very reason. 

They use it in horrible ways. The people do not care enough. It's a problem.