The Democratic Party fundamentally redrew the electoral map under President-Elect Barack Obama. By winning in Nevada and New Mexico (both by double-digits), Colorado, Virginia and North Carolina, and even a district in Nebraska, Obama and VP-elect Joe Biden provided a map changing victory and a true hope for the progressive left to pass some of its policy dreams over the next four years.
In Colorado, this victory was joined by several others. Mark Udall, a true western libertarian liberal in the vein of his father Mo, won a Senate seat by 9 points. Betsy Markey beat conservative reactionary homophobe Marilyn Musgrave in the 13th most conservative Congressional district now held by a Democrat, and did it by 11 points. Jared Polis became the first openly gay freshman male elected to the House. In history.
In individual electoral races, progressives had a good night here in Colorado.
Ballot-wise, we had a pretty solid night, even though my beloved TABOR-fixing Amendment 59 lost by 6, the same margin by which I thought it would win. We defeated two virulently anti-labor measures, the personhood amendment that would've completely eliminated women's healthcare in Colorado, and several terrible tax policies. We became the first state to ever defeat an anti-affirmative action measure written by Californian xenophobe Ward Connerly.
Around the country, progressives replaced moderates and moderates replaced conservatives. Hell, in a few places, conservatives Democrats replaced batshit insane Republican reactionaries. We elected a number of women to the legislature, including two new female Senators in New Hampshire and North Carolina.
In an abject failure for the queer community, Proposition 8 passed in California, a victory for hate and discrimination. California gave rights to chickens and farm animals by passing Prop 4, but couldn't give rights to gays and lesbians. God forbid people should have equal rights. I'll have a longer post about the future of the gay rights/queer movement soon, but it's terribly disappointing to watch a progressive state (CA) defeat a progressive pro-gay Proposition. Let's hope that the State Supreme Court does the right thing and overturns it this next session.
So all in all, not a bad night. But it could've been better. We still have a long way to go in this country. God bless.
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