John -
Election night 2023 has come and gone, but Democrats across the country are waking up to see the fruits of their labor paying off. Across the country, the Democratic Party put up resounding victories, and rejected MAGA extremism in both critical swing states and in rural America. While it is important to celebrate these victories, we cannot afford complacency. Rather we ought to use these victories to continue the momentum into 2024, and use them as gameplans to defeat the extremist MAGA agenda. Grab your coffee and donut, and we’ll break last night down for you.
Kentucky
The biggest win out of the major races last night was Democratic Governor Andy Beshear winning reelection in Kentucky. In 2020, Kentucky was a +26 Trump state, but Governor Beshear was able to defeat MAGA’s rising star, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, by a 5 point margin in the Bluegrass State. Beshear’s victory reaffirms America’s commitment to choice, as AG Cameron’s extremist abortion policies became a focal point in the race. Governor Beshear also was able to win several rural counties that had previously supported Trump, reminding us once again of the importance that rural voters play in the Democratic Party.
Virginia
Democrats in the Virginia legislative elections soundly rejected the politics of MAGA and Glenn Youngkin by denying Governor Youngkin a “MAGA Trifecta”. Not only were Democrats able to retain control of the Virginia House, which had been expected to be close, but they were able to regain control of the Virginia Senate as well. This was a resounding rejection of Governor Youngkin’s ridiculous abortion policy, as well as the rest of his extremist agenda.
Ohio
The big election in Ohio was a referendum on whether an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would enshrine abortion rights should be enacted. Issue 1 had huge appeal, and passed with a nearly 13 point margin and a half million votes. It received support from both urban and rural Ohio. This bodes well for Senator Sherrod Brown’s reelection campaign next year, and proves that with the right messaging extremist conservative policies can be defeated in states that are trending red.
Pennsylvania
In the Keystone State, a critical seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was up for grabs. Democratic Judge Daniel McCaffery won the election by nearly six points. The race means that Democrats now have some breathing room, as the Supreme Court will be a 5-2 Democratic split. McCaffery will serve in this role for the next decade, helping to protect abortion and voting rights in the state.
Mississippi
Mississippi, a 16 point Trump 2020 state, saw one of its most competitive elections of the last twenty years come to a close on Tuesday night. While the incumbent, Governor Tate Reeves, was able to secure reelection, it was not without a fight. Democratic challenger Brandon Presley ran hard and fought until the very end, coming up just short. This race is important to remind us that the work is not finished, but we are trending in the right direction. With more organizing and a message that connects with rural voters, the additional 5 points needed in Mississippi will be achievable.
While today we can relax, and enjoy the victories won by Democrats across the country, we cannot get complacent. It is so important to continue to put in the work day by day, and ensure that we reject MAGA extremism wherever it presents itself. Next November we cannot squander the chance to take back the House of Representatives, and ensure Democrats control the Presidency and the Senate. Until then, we here at No Dem Left Behind will continue to do everything we can to make that happen. Please consider supporting these efforts with a gift today →
