Tag: midterm election

Voters all over America finally said no to the NRA

Credit: Mark Humphrey, AP Photo

The NRA has been a powerful force in elections. But on Tuesday, NRA-backed candidates who have refused to support gun safety went down in humiliating defeat.

Voters soundly rejected the NRA and the candidates carrying water for its anti-gun-safety agenda in 2018. The gun extremists refused to change course even after mass shootings claimed the lives of dozens of innocent Americans, and their candidates suffered because of it.

The NRA was already in something of a retreat before Election Day. They significantly reduced spending on the midterm elections, cutting their donations to Republican candidates.

It did not help the NRA that the FBI, the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), and Senate investigators have opened up probes looking at the flow of Russian money to their bank accounts during the 2016 election. In that contest, the NRA gave $54 million to Republicans, with $32 million backing Trump.

View the complete November 9 article by Oliver Willis on the ShareBlue.com website here.

The Blue Wave that Everyone Missed: Democrats Had a Huge Win in the Midterms — But We’re Only Realizing It Now

Many Democrats were disappointed Tuesday night. But that reaction now looks premature.

After the initial results from the 2018 midterm elections were tabulated this week, most observers seemed to accept the conclusion that while the Democrats had a decent but disappointing night — even as President Donald Trump and his allies implausibly treated the night as a vindication for the GOP.

But the mildly despondent Democratic reaction is beginning to look misguided. The much-predicted blue wave actually did come in this week in a big way — even if few observers noticed at first.

Part of the problem was that many of the races were far from decided by the end of Tuesday night — and many are still up in the air. But as of this writing, FiveThirtyEight projects that Democrats will win a net gain of 37 seats in the house. That not only gives them control but represents a monumental turnaround — which is particularly impressive considering the GOP’s extensive gerrymandering of the country.

View the complete November 8 article by Cody Fenwick on the AlterNet.org website here.

DFL GOTV Bus Tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. at State Capitol

A Minnesota for All

Minnesota is the epicenter of the 2018 election. With two U.S. Senate seats up, Minnesota has its longest ballot in about 50 years. On Nov. 6, Minnesotans will not only decide who controls state government and the constitutional offices, but candidates for Congress will impact political control on the national level.

DFL Chairman Ken Martin said to build on the energy and excitement DFL candidates are generating across the state, the DFL will host a 2018 DFL GOTV Bus Tour. The 5-day tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. on the State Capitol Aurora Promenade.        

“During the tour, our candidates will encourage people to volunteer and vote,” Martin said. “With affordable and accessible health care, a world-class education for our children and making sure all voice are heard on the line, the stakes of an election have never been higher. Voters are responding to our candidates’ messages of building a Minnesota where everyone has opportunities to succeed. We look forward to taking that message across the state.” Continue reading “DFL GOTV Bus Tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. at State Capitol”

DNC Launches New Campaign: ‘Vote For Me’

Today, the DNC launched a new campaign to urge Democratic voters to vote in the midterm elections. Watch and see what’s at stake through the eyes of kids, who could stand to lose the most in the midterm elections. They can’t vote – but you can.

This is the vote of our lifetime. It is an election like no other we’ve seen and there is so much at stake. Make a plan today for how you’re going to vote and visit IWillVote.com for help. To reach the DNC Voter Hotline: call 833-336-8683 or text QUESTION to 43367.

Alaya, age 10: “If I had lost my medicine, I don’t know what I would ever do. That would lead me to death, and I don’t understand why people would think to do that.”

Belia, age 13: “When I see them on TV taking kids away from their parents, it’s scary.”

Austin, age 15: “I heard if you zigzag when you run, like the shooter’s less likely to shoot you. So I’ve always been thinking, like, if a shooter ever comes into a classroom, like, I would like run through the back door and like zigzag out of the school. So like, I think about that on a daily basis.” Continue reading “DNC Launches New Campaign: ‘Vote For Me’”

Suburban voters will decide control of Congress

House Republicans struggling to preserve their majority are facing a wave of Democratic money and enthusiasm in suburban districts across the country, as well-educated and moderate voters consider new checks on President Trump.
An analysis of the types of districts in play shows that two-thirds of the Republican-held seats that a top election handicapper sees as vulnerable are in suburban areas.
That has Republicans on defense in an area where Trump has bled support, even in the 2016 election he won.

Want to Know More About: The Supreme Court Nomination Effect on the Midterm Election

Erica Hill: “President Trump And Republicans Taking A Victory Lap, Casting Democrats As An Angry Mob, In Hopes That The Kavanaugh Fight Will Pay Dividends In The Midterm Election, Which Are Now By The Way Only Twenty-Nine Days Away.” ERICA HILL: “Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh beginning his first week on the high court, after that bruising confirmation battle. President Trump and republicans taking a victory lap, casting democrats as an angry mob, in hopes that the Kavanaugh fight will pay dividends in the midterm election, which are now by the way only twenty-nine days away.”   [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

Abby Phillip: “Now The Attention Is Shifting To The Campaign Trail Where Democrats And Republicans Are Hoping To Use The Treatment Of Kavanaugh And His Accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, To Galvanize Their Voters.” ABBY PHILLIP: “Republicans are taking a victory lap over the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh but now the attention is shifting to the campaign trail where Democrats and Republicans are hoping to use the treatment of Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, to galvanize their voters.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

David Gregory: “I Think There Is A Renewed Realization That If You Care About These Issues, If You Care About The Future Of The Court, Among Other Issues, You Need To Get Out And Vote. So I Think The Democrats Have A Lot Of Energy.” DAVID GREGORY: “The recent history I have seen and covered, anger you see among democrats is very strong and a big motivator to get to the polls. I think there is a renewed realization that if you care about these issues, if you care about the future of the Court, among other issues, you need to get out and vote. So I think the democrats have a lot of energy.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]

Abby Phillip: “Democrats Also Hoping That Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Will Drive Frustrated Voters To The Polls.” [New Day, CNN, 10/8/18; Video]