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John,
The midterm election is behind us and now begins the time to
process what happened and chart how we move forward. While we still
await certified results, we have a better idea of what the next few
years of American politics will look like. Let’s break down the good,
the bad, and the ugly of the 2022
midterms:
THE GOOD
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The 2022 midterm was secure and peaceful. No major incidents were reported, so let’s
take a moment to be thankful for another successful election and thank
poll workers for doing an outstanding job.
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Tuesday night was a very good night for Ranked Choice
Voting. Cities across the
country adopted RCV to conduct their local elections. While votes are
still out in a number of places, it looks like coast-to-coast RCV is a
winner.
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RCV is in the national spotlight in three competitive federal races: Maine’s
2nd Congressional race, Alaska’s At-Large Congressional Race, and
Alaska’s Senate race. In 2020, RCV decided the outcome of Maine’s 2nd
Congressional and it very well could decide it again. The same goes
for both Alaska races.
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Voters are smarter, more nuanced, and less partisan than
parties think. Ticket splitting across the country shows
voters aren’t party-controlled and that people are independent by
nature.
THE BAD
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Evan McMullin’s bid for U.S. Senate in
Utah came up short. He built a historic cross-partisan
coalition in Utah that ran more competitively than one of the major
parties has in nearly a half-century. While the final outcome is disappointing,
it’s also a reminder that every time you field a good candidate that
makes sizable headway with the electorate, you make it easier for the
next person.
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Both parties will double down on
national, culture war issues moving forward. The
kitchen table issues that impact the everyday lives of
constituents will continue to take the backseat to fiery wedge
issues to keep the “us vs.
them” mentality alive and well going into 2024.
THE UGLY
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The two major parties will learn the wrong lessons from
Tuesday’s results. Democrats
will continue to boost dangerous candidates because they think they
are beatable - but it will backfire eventually. Republicans will
continue to be split between more traditional conservatives and
Trumpism, with the fringes muscling their way to the spotlight.
There is
still much to unpack from this week’s election, but one thing is
apparent: Americans
want a better way. They supported voting reform across
the board and even defeated anti-reform initiatives in Arizona and
Arkansas. The opportunity to reshape the political
narrative, refocus the dialogue on communities, and get things done
for the American people is there - we just have to do the hard work
and have the conviction to deliver. With your support, I know we can
do it.
Finally, I want
to express my sincere gratitude to all the Forward Party volunteers
who donated their time, energy, and resources to our midterm efforts.
Truly, thank you. I’d also like to thank all the great
candidates who ran. As a former candidate myself, I know the toll it
takes on your family and the amount of bravery needed to put yourself
out there like that.
Together, we are listening, learning, and charting the path
forward for our communities and country. Thank you for being with us
on this journey.
Best,
Blair
Walsingham
Communities & Building Team
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