What did work? Who did win?

[Lizz612]

Tammy Duckworth won Barack Obama's old seat in the Senate, defeating Mark Kirk, a moderate republican who had distanced himself from Trump. There are many reasons she won, some were things that she didn't control like Illinois being as blue as a summer sky. But she ran with endorsements from Unions and big names, her compelling story, bit of an independent streak and a ton of cash. Her opponent did himself no favors when he tried to make a joke about Duckworth's heritage. Kirk was too middle of the road for the conservative base and there were few Democrats in Illinois willing to cross the ticket for him.

What victories did you see and what did they do right?

[FBaggins]

1. McCrory's loss was a bright spot for the night

He significantly under-performed Burr and Trump.

[Jersey Devil]

5. and it was based on social issues and not economics

It is interesting that the voters rejected Gov Bathroom over the transgender bathroom issue that they found very unfair despite the fact that they voted Repub for the other top ticket offices.

[Lizz612]

6. That is interesting

That was the main issue? Hmmm.

[Jersey Devil]

8. yes, definitely the main issue

I'd like to think North Carolinians voted based on the principle of fairness alone, but other factors on the issue made it very difficult for McCrory. NC lost several NCAA football and basketball tournaments and from what I have seen so far (lived in NC only since June), NC residents love their sports! Also, the state was boycotted for the bathroom law and it hurt businesses economically. The people wanted McCrory to back down from the law and get their sports and businesses back but he refused.

[JI7]

12. do you think the same would have happened without the boycott ?

[Jersey Devil]

15. Think it was the sports maybe more than the boycott

The boycott was effective but NC lost the NCAA basketball championships. Home of Duke and the Univ of North Carolina, that is a very big deal in this state. NC also lost the NBA All Star Game.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/north-carolina-loses-ncaa-championship-events-over-bathroom-law-2016-09-12

The boycott is estimated to have cost the state millions of dollars, so that cannot be ignored.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/06/north-carolinas-standoff-over-the-transgender-bathroom-bill-is-costing-millions.html

[LisaL]

13. He still hasn't admitted he lost.

[beaglelover]

2. Kamala Harris is our new Senator from CA

Stellar track record here in CA. Very bright future in the party. She may even finally break the glass ceiling!

[Sancho]

3. Jolly (R) lost to Crist (D) in Florida

Actually, I still don't believe that Trump "won"....

[CBHagman]

4. Chris Van Hollen won the Senate seat in Maryland.

It amounts to a hold for the Democratic Party, as Barbara Mikulski is retiring and Van Hollen will be her successor. Moreover, Maryland is a blue state, and the Van Hollen victory was expected.

I did have a chance to observe both Van Hollen and his opponent, Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga, and the latter didn't depart from the boilerplate GOP rhetoric (e.g., don't raise the minimum wage, etc.). Van Hollen can think on his feet and push back when faced with a less than sympathetic audience (on the Iran deal, for instance).

[Ken Burch]

7. Thank you for starting this thread.

n/t.

[Ken Burch]

9. Democrats regained "supermajorities" in the California State Senate and Assembly.

This means that, in theory, the last two years of Jerry Brown's career as governor should be an obstruction-free zone.

[geek tragedy]

10. Minimum wage, anti-drug war ballot initiatives nt

[JI7]

11. california

[spooky3]

14. Dems picked up 8 house seats and 2 Senate seats, IIRC.

Not as many as hoped, but still a net gain in both houses.