Backlash against Trump in US elections


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Here’s a few stories about the encouraging elections in the USA last Tuesday.

Politico summarised the news:

This one was for Donald Trump. Exit polls revealed an unmistakable anti-Trump backlash Tuesday, as Democrats won resounding victories in governors races in Virginia and New Jersey. Majorities of voters in both states disapproved of the job Trump is doing as president, with significant numbers of voters in each state saying Trump was a reason for their vote. And far more of those voters said they made their choice to oppose Trump than to support him.

James Hahamnn in the Washington Post said it was a good day for the Democrats:

Tuesday was the best day for Democrats politically since Barack Obama won reelection in 2012. Remember, conservatives scored significant victories in the November 2014, 2015 and 2016 elections. Democrats desperately needed some wins after they went all-in on a House special election in Georgia this spring and lost. Last night, they got them.

Voters came out in droves. They braved the rain and the cold to send a message to President Trump. The results across the country represent nothing less than a stinging repudiation of Trump on the first anniversary of his election.

The New York Times described the results as a suburban revolt:

The American suburbs appear to be in revolt against President Trump after a muscular coalition of college-educated voters and racial and ethnic minorities on Tuesday dealt the Republican Party a thumping rejection and propelled a diverse class of Democrats into office.

From the tax-obsessed suburbs of New York City to high-tech neighborhoods outside Seattle to the sprawling, polyglot developments of Fairfax and Prince William County, Va., voters shunned Republicans up and down the ballot in off-year elections. Leaders in both parties said the elections amounted to an earsplitting alarm bell for Republicans ahead of the 2018 elections, when the party’s grip on the House of Representatives may hinge on the socially moderate, multiethnic communities surrounding major cities.

Politico highlighted the Virginian victory of Democrat Ralph Northam, who was elected Governor despite a very negative campaign by Republican Ed Gillespie:

Swing voters in suburban counties outside Washington and Richmond soured on Republicans up and down the Virginia ballot, an ominous sign for dozens of suburban Republicans in Congress, while the progressive base poured out to vote in high numbers. College-educated voters backed (Virginia) Democratic Gov.-elect Ralph Northam with 60 percent of their votes, according to exit polls.

The Washington Post said it was good day for women:

Women racked up victories across the country on Tuesday, and are being credited with the Democrats’ big night overall. It is a testament to the remarkable explosion of women candidates who have entered the political stage since Donald Trump was elected president one year ago.

Michelle Goldberg highlighted the diverse range of winning candidates across the country:

In some ways the election was the revenge of the Obama coalition. Educated white liberals joined people of color to elect an amazingly diverse group of candidates. A Latina single mother, Michelle De La Isla, was elected mayor of Topeka, Kan. Wilmot Collins, a refugee from Liberia, won the mayoral race in Helena, Mont. Seattle elected its first lesbian mayor, Jenny Durkan. After a year in which liberals have been bludgeoned by demands that they abandon identity politics and empathize with resentful Trump voters, the election was a reminder that white men needn’t be the center of the political universe.

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.

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6 Comments

  • Richard Underhill 13th Dec '17 - 10:17am

    Alabama is usually a safe seat for Republicans. Donald Trump backed Mr Moore who had been affected by accusations of sexual harassment.
    The BBC is reporting an historic victory for the Democrat Doug Jones, so that the count in the Senate becomes 51-49. Does it? There were previous reports of a Democrat Senator being forced to resign by fellow Democrat Senators while complaining that Mr. Moore had been allowed to stand in Alabama and Donald trump was continuing as President.
    Channel 4 News had reported that a key issue in Alabama was a Republican attempt to overturn Roe v Wade.

  • Richard Underhill 13th Dec '17 - 10:19am
  • A blow for Trump.
    State visit to Britain still on.

  • Richard Underhill 13th Dec '17 - 8:18pm

    Manfarang 13th Dec ’17 – 11:17am: A blow against Trump. One up for Obama.
    A BBC strapline on the 24 hour news channel (200) put the 51-49 result as a majority of one. There are, of course, many branches of mathematics, these are political mathematics, depending on a two party system in the USA with no third parties or independent members, three line whips etc.
    We therefore look forward to another special election, hopefully a Democrat hold in Minnesota.

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