2009 Election Results: Mixed Night For Teabaggers
Here’s yesterday’s election results, as they stand right now:
VA-Gov
Bob McDonnell (R) 59%
Creigh Deeds (D) 41%
99% counted
A big win for Republicans in VA-Gov. This result was no surprise, Deeds was a crappy candidate. His problem was that he tried to run against President Obama, at one point even saying he would consider opting out of the public option. Not a good way to inspire the base. According to reports, the Republican turnout was normal but the Democratic turnout was low. This follows the them of Republicans energized, Democrats less so but it doesn’t look like a win for tea bagger.
NJ-Gov
Chris Christie (R) 49%
Jon Corzine (D) inc. 45%
Chris Daggett (I) 6%
99% counted
There were a lot of changes in this race near the end. Daggett’s support collapsed (he was up to 20% at one point last week). A lot of Daggett’s votes went to Christie and the independents went to Christie at a 2:1 rate according to exit polls. Corzine never cracked 45% in any poll, so his final number is not a surprise. Corzine had very low popularity (in the 30s) and had been involved in scandals (affair with one of his aides, car accident) and was governor during the really crappy economy. Christie was not a good candidate but Corzine was just too unpopular. Also, congratulations NJ for getting a governor with 49% unpopularity before he even steps into office.
Maine Prop 1
Yes (repeal same sex marriage) 53%
No (keep same sex marriage) 47%
87% counted
This is the biggest disappointment of the night for me. It shows that lying works (they’re going to indoctrinate your children, the horror!). I don’t think people’s civil rights should be put to a vote.
Other interesting results in Maine as well – Maine approved medical marijuana and rejected an anti-tax initiative. This was definitely not a teabagger election.
Washington State Referendum Measure 71 (domestic partnership)
Yes (approve domestic partnership) 51%
No (reject domestic partnership) 49%
100% counted
A small glimmer of hope in the fight for same sex marriage. This should give the “call it anything but marriage” crowd a boost. There was also an anti-tax initiative on the ballot that lost.
CA-10
John Garamendi (D) 53%
David Harmer (R) 43%
Others 4%
100% counted
This result is not a surprise. The seat was formerly held by Ellen Tauscher.
The most intriguing races of the night were in New York.
NY-23
Bill Owens (D) 49%
Doug Hoffman (I) 45%
DeDe Scozzafava (R) 6%
93% counted
Well, the teabaggers got their scalp with Scozzafava, but didn’t take the district. In some polls, Hoffman had led by as much as 15% over Owens. Were these polls wildly inaccurate? Probably but I think there was a lot of flux in the race at the end. How much did Scozzafava’s endorsement help Owens? Did Palin, Pawlenty, Thompson and Limbaugh (all out-of-district politicians) hurt Hoffman? How much did Hoffman’s unfamiliarity with the district hurt him? Did the reports of overzealous Hoffman supporters harassing voters make a difference?
I think the surprise election of the night was NYC-Mayor. Bloomberg was expected to cruise over former comptroller Bill Thompson and spent more than $100,000,000 of his own fortune on the race. The final results were the following:
Michael Bloomberg (I), (R) inc. 51%
Bill Thompson (D) 46%
That looks like a huge protest vote. I wonder how the democrats would have done if they had run a higher profile candidate?
Tags: ME Prop 1, NJ-Gov, NY-23, Same Sex Marriage, VA-Gov
Most of the resentment in the Bloomberg race resulted from his refusal to honor his term limit.
Owens wins in NY? Wow. Will the teabaggers blame Dede (yes) and not accept the moderate win of the GOP just showed how important they are?
Deeds lost because he ran as a republican. You would think democratic candidates would learn at some point, but I guess not.
Last night aged Obama about 10 years. Despite your best efforts it was a rejection at every level for the Democratic Party and Obama.
You are correct to say it may not be a Big Night for Tea Party people, that remains to be seen. However, it was a disaster for the President who campaigned huge for Corzine. NJ has almost 700,000 more Dems than R’s and the Dems got a huge spanking.
Virginia went for Obama last year and was rejected badly. You may try to spin Deeds away but he won the Dem primary in a landslide in case you forgot.
No matter how you slice it a terribly bad night for the Dems.
Mike Protack
I think I would actually burst into tears if Protack ever offered an insightful analysis.
I think Markos might be on to something. From last night’s DailyKos, and it’s okay to reprint, his policy is to share . . .
Tonight’s big lesson
by kos
Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:32:52 AM EST
There will be much number-crunching tomorrow, but preliminary numbers (at least in Virginia) show that GOP turnout remained the same as last year, but Democratic turnout collapsed. This is a base problem, and this is what Democrats better take from tonight:
1.If you abandon Democratic principles in a bid for unnecessary “bipartisanship”, you will lose votes.
2.If you water down reform in favor of Blue Dogs and their corporate benefactors, you will lose votes.
3.If you forget why you were elected — health care, financial services, energy policy and immigration reform — you will lose votes.
Tonight proved conclusively that we’re not going to turn out just because you have a (D) next to your name, or because Obama tells us to. We’ll turn out if we feel it’s worth our time and effort to vote, and we’ll work hard to make sure others turn out if you inspire us with bold and decisive action.
The choice is yours. Give us a reason to vote for you, or we sit home. And you aren’t going to make up the margins with conservative voters. They already know exactly who they’re voting for, and it ain’t you.
My impression is that the Republican wins in NJ and VA were driven much more by the specific candidates than they were by some sort of party referendum. Like UI said, Deeds was just a bad candidate who ran a bad campaign. Corzine is disliked enough that the GOP could have run any generic, portly candidate with a shady past and won (Oh, wait a minute…they did). It was a bad night for Deeds and Corzine, not Democrats. The NY-23 race was interesting though. The fracturing of the GOP caused them to lose a seat they’ve held since the Grant administration (yes, Ulysses S. Grant). I think this is much more of an indicator of things to come.
I don’t think people’s civil rights should be put to a vote.
Unfortunately (because I agree with you on same-sex marriage) civil rights always have to be put to a vote–at least the first time. The Constitution and Bill of Rights had to be ratified. You didn’t get nationwide Woman Suffrage until a majority of men–however slim–supported it.
Remember, we only have to win convincingly once–they have to win every time.
Aside from Hoffman, my concern is the (false) emboldenment (I think I created a word there) of the wingnuts. I do not at all see last night as a Republican comeback; rather, I see a backlash against INCUMBENTS and nothing more. It just so happens that most of the incumbents are Dems. That theory, though, gives a touch of irony, in that it shows a progressive vote that brought in Republicans. Go figure.
True, Smitty. My barometer in NJ told me that he went online to find all of his current representatives for all offices and voted against them. Period.
My impression is that the Republican wins in NJ and VA were driven much more by the specific candidates than they were by some sort of party referendum.
True. However, the MSM will run with the “GOP Comeback” and “Trouble for Obama” narratives until they may actually come to pass.
Mike: Why bother? Everybody knows your analysis is either self-serving, distorted by your biases, or both. Here’s a good lesson for you: Listen to yourself talking on the radio about aviation. You’re knowledgeable, self-confident and speak smoothly and intelligently. Now listen to yourself analyzing politics. You’re hollow, cliche-spouting and offer nothing people can’t get from 10,000 other conservatives, most of whom understand politics as poorly as you do.
Stick to what you know. Hint: It ain’t politics.
The exit polls were pretty convincing (80+% for both Christie and for McDonnell) that people were voting on their economies, not on health care or cap and trade or whatever the repub bete noirs are. Obama’s approval stayed pretty high in both states and exit polls were pretty clear that people were not voting against him. Tough economies are tough on incumbents. But Deeds was a bad candidate and both VA and NJ face economic issues that neither incoming candidate will be able to adequately address, either.
The Owens win was a surprise to me — but I think that the message there is that local Republicans should get to say who their candidates are. Scozzafava may not be conservative enough for Palin and Beck and the teabaggers but she was likely plenty conservative for her own community.
Markos is really right about the Dem base just not showing up. Giving people a reason to vote for you is important.
While I think it’s most probable that the results will be overanalyzed, they shouldn’t be ignored either.
For Democrats – what Markos said. That means passing health care reform and a public option. But there is also danger, especially if nothing gets done. Voters won’t care that the Senate is dysfunctional – they wanted change and they’re not seeing it. Democrats really risk losing their brand.
For Republicans – Republicans are more energized than Democrats right now. Candidates running good races can still win. I wouldn’t consider Christie or McDonnell (at least how McDonnell won anyway) as teabagger rabid base candidates.
For teabaggers – There are not as many of you as you think there are. The results from NY-23 and Maine and Washington anti-tax initiatives should tell you this. Local politics still trump national politics and you risk a backlash by trying to nationalize a local race.
LOL @ Geezer.
Even safe Democrats feeling at risk
Politico ^ | 11/4/2009 | Jonathan Allen
Jim Costa’s path to reelection isn’t the toughest among House Democrats, but that doesn’t mean the California Democrat feels safe voting for a House health care overhaul bill that he says is too costly and does too little to help rural districts like his own. “I think we’re all vulnerable next year,” said Costa, who won with nearly three-quarters of the vote last year in a district that President Barack Obama carried with 60 percent. Costa is one of a handful of moderate House Democrats from relatively stable districts who aren’t yet on board with the health care bill and…
If Ms Scozzafava got 6% of the vote in NY23 despite dropping out, how many of those were military absentee ballots that were cast weeks ago? (Ft. Drum in Watertown is home of the 10th Mountain Division, which I believe is deployed to Afghanistan.) That one could have gone down to the wire or even to a recount if we had a modern absentee ballot system.
That’s a pretty big assumption – that Hoffman would have gotten 100% of Scozzafava’s voters. I definitely wouldn’t assume that. Here’s a test for you G Rex – do the mathematical calculation. Start reassigning Scozzafava’s voters and tell us the % that would have to go to Hoffman to overcome Owens’s lead. 100%, 99%? Only if you’re getting closer to 50/50 would I believe that Scozzafava played the spoiler for Hoffman. Also remember, some of that 6% for Scozzafava came on election day – after she dropped out and endorsed Owens. To really do it right, you need to know the number of absentee ballots in the count.
UI, note that I phrased it in the form of a question. My only implication is that it would have been even closer than 49/45.
Or… it could have been even farther apart than 49/45.
Sorry, Rex. There’s not enough info to support your implication.
will not look up NY-23 election statistics…will not look up NY-23 election statistics…
OK, it passed.
I’m waiting for Nate’s analysis. Let’s let him do all the work!
Unnoticed in the big votes yesterday was a school board election in Denver where one person was bankrolling 3 candidates who are strong supporters of charter schools. The other 3 candidates were supported by the teacher’s unions and other unions. Two of the three charter school supporters lost, and now the board is divided 4-3 against charter schools. And then there was Initiative 300 – http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13708720.
Another little noticed fact that in NJ the Democrats kept their legislative majority. I think I read that the GOP picked up one seat.
Also Chapel Hill, SC just voted it’s first openly gay mayor.
I am quite disappointed about Maine. My Aunt and thousands of others have been happily and legally married in Massachusetts for nearly 5 years now. The sky has not fallen. No one is attempting to convert schoolchildren to The Gay. Also, divorce rates? low.
Houston’s mayoral election is headed to a runoff, with an openly gay candidate leading the pack. Yes, you read that right, an openly gay mayoral candidate in a Texas city that is not Austin, could win.
Wrong Smitty, Every Republican incumbent won in the states that I can find. It was an anti-Democrat vote.
Wrong, there is wide spread indoctrination in MA of school children. Read the curriculum. As for Houston, it won’t happen. The comptroller is popular and smart but so is the opponent who will now be able to appeal to the other 70%. Besides who says an intelligent gay person can’t do a job as well as an intelligent straight person? It depends on the agenda.
As I said, the (flase) emboldenment. Go ahead and refuse to really analyze it and take the surface victories.
me: continues to pound head on desk, wondering why people can’t get past their effing egos
Yes, pretend it’s validation of your ways and think it has nothing to do with anti-status-quo.
David,
Who DID say an intelligent gay person can’t do as good a job? Not me. You’ve confused me.
Also, I will seriously mail you $20 if you’ve actually read the school curriculum of a state in which you do not reside. AND even IF they were teaching gay tolerance in schools I don’t see a problem. Teach your kids bigotry on your own time. I would obviously trust the authority of my family members who live and teach within the Mass school system over yours.
Also, you are a massive tool.
Well… my brother and his family live in Cambridge, MA. They send their child to a Cambridge public school, and haven’t seen any indoctrination. But, what do they know, eh David? They only live there.
Seriously, David sees indoctrination the same way the kid in the Sixth Sense saw dead people. Only the kid is more believable.
So, can we give this indoctrination-phobia a label? Take the Stepford Wives, the robotic-like wives who were programmed (indoctrinated). Hmm, I think we shall call it the Stepford Heteros! We will serve teh gays…we will serve teh gays.
Obviously, I mean this to be severely sarcastic to the overwhelming fear that is misguided into thinking some magic wand will touch them on their head and convert them.
The people who are worried that same sex marriage will ruin their opposite marriage must find same sex marriage mighty tempting.
I’m beginning to think a magic wand wouldn’t do much good since they really do protest to much for men supposedly comfortable with their sexuality. It’s almost as if the only thing holding them back from their true desires is a law against gay marriage.
Ooh, I love it when we arrive at the same conclusion, UI!
An old clip about gay marriage.
Full Episodes
Dumbass David – Annise Parker is the Houston CONTROLLER, not comptroller. Might have the same duties, but, jeesh, get your facts correct. Oh, I forgot, you wingnuts don’t rely on facts. And having lived in Texas and knowing something about the political landscape in Houston, don’t count her out just because she’s lesbian. Considering that she got 31% of the vote and Locke got 26%, that only leaves 43% of yesterday’s voters up for grabs, not 70%. And runoff elections (especially on the first day of Chanukah)usually have a very low turn-out. It’s all about GOTV and Parker has a better, stronger, organization.
You all know that the reason David is commenting on here is he thought DL stood for “down low.”
Jinx pandora!
Well said, V. I would like to see these supposed indoctrination materials. I think the indoctrination is actually people growing up thinking it’s normal.
The whole issue of indoctrination is based on a false principle anyway: that homosexuality is a choice and not something you are born with. If you accept that people are just born that way (like red hair, or blue eyes, or me lovin’ me some dudes) you realize you can’t “teach” gay and that argument goes out the window.
V – as one of the gays commenting here at DL, I actually think you can teach gay. I can teach you how to make a fabulous brunch for 10 on Sunday, how to decorate, and can teach you how to shop for that smart outfit that won’t make you look like you’re 50 trying to be 25. Yessssssssss we can! 😉
I thought Queer Eye was long gone. 😉
You all know that the reason David is commenting on here is he thought DL stood for “down low.”
😆 HAH!
Actually, I give 😆 to both of your previous comments.
OK, honesty check, was the attempt to label the indoctrination-fear, “Stepford Heteros” not funny, not even a slight chuckle? Anyone?
MJ – consider me registered for your class.
I was laughing on the inside, Smitty.
Seriously, your Stepford reference was pretty damn accurate – probably too dead on to be chuckled at.
(end of ego stroking. 😉 )
Homosexuals: “Will not quit until we know where every single one of these votes lives.”
Bangor Daily News ^ | 11/03/2009 | Kevin Miller and Judy Harrison
PORTLAND, Maine — Voters on Tuesday repealed the state’s same sex marriage law after an emotionally charged campaign that drew large numbers to the polls and focused national attention on Maine.
In a defiant speech to several hundred lingering supporters, No on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly pledged that his side “will not quit until we know where every single one of these votes lives.”
that’s right lizard. the gays are going to track you down, come to your house in the dead of night and touch your penis.
be afraid.
be very afraid.
Could be worse V. They could be swapping out the heteros wardrobe and redecorating their living areas.
I’ve heard some say reading Delaware Liberal makes you teh gay.
Why is it that people who showily proclaim that they are so devoted to God and His teachings will brazenly violate the commandments with stuff like this:
Wrong, there is wide spread indoctrination in MA of school children.
When your ideology forces you to lie repeatedly in order to keep that ideology you need to really put yourself in check. Lying to get to a desired outcome is still lying.
Nemski, looks like there’s more going on than hair styling and interior decorating:
Harvard Alum Accused of Arson (LGBT activist)
The Crimson ^ | Nov 4, 2009 | ELIAS J GROLL
A recent Harvard Law School graduate has been accused of setting fire to a New York City chapel that houses the remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 attacks, leading to public outrage from the victims’ families. Classmates of Schroeder at the Law School contacted by The Crimson either did not return repeated requests for comment or declined to comment. But according to media reports the act surprised those who know Schroeder, who served as co-president of Lambda, the school’s LGBT student organization, during his time as a student.
So what other clubs was he in lizard? how come that is immediately tied to his Lamda connection? and not say “oh lawyers are bad people who burn things”.
I was really into marching band when I was in school, does that mean any crimes I commit will be attributed to tuba players as a whole? God forbid.
“that’s right lizard. the gays are going to track you down, come to your house in the dead of night and touch your penis.”
So, you think they’ll bring microscopes with them, eh?
On a more serious note, every single Democratic assemblyman in NJ was re-elected. So much for the “anti-D” vote. But then, David was too busy holding his hand over his homosexual-threatened crotch to devote much time to research.
I love how people like the Gecko try to tie anything criminally to someone being gay. The reporter from the Crimson is just a bad reporter, trying to make more news than what is there. Much like the rethugs parsing about the election.
Again, another “secure” heterosexual male who’s afraid that homo sex is contagious. He probably got turned down in that park bathroom he frequents every Sunday after church.
“…every single Democratic assemblyman in NJ was re-elected.”
So New Jersey is pro-corruption? Marvelous.
They must be, they elected Chris Christie.
so what happened to the thread on RINOs?
never mind. found it.