IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

IPA Special

IPA Special

Left democrats make steady advance in u.s. Mid-term poll

By John Wojcik

 

A substantial majority of Americans went to the polls on November 6 and pulled the lever for candidates who opposed President Trump and his policies. Even in the elections for the U.S. Senate, where the GOP gained at least three seats, 10 million more people voted Democratic than voted Republican.

 

The big news of the night, however, was the practical result of the national outpouring of voters who rejected the fear and racism put forward by the GOP. Democrats, even before the final reports from 14 districts, had already piled up a margin of close to 30 seats in the House of Representatives. More voters propelled this “blue wave” than the numbers that carried into office the infamous Tea Party Republicans during the 2010 midterms of the Obama administration. Judging by initial numbers, this year’s election could see the highest turnout in history for any midterm in the U.S.

 

The media’s characterization of Tuesday night’s election results as a “split decision” fails to capture the significance of what actually happened. Women, youth, African Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ, and other historically under-represented groups entered and successfully used the electoral process to make themselves heard and to actually win political office. Some 110 women will be seated in the new Congress. Women started marching against Trump the day after he was inaugurated and only two years later, they have defeated a huge number of male Republican lawmakers and are replacing them with some of those among themselves who marched that day.

 

The people elected to the new Congress include leaders and activists in mass movements—people who are different than most who have sat in Congress in the past. The chance that Trump will be able to get rid of Robert Mueller, whose investigation has already resulted in felony convictions and guilty pleas from several top Trump administration officials, is now significantly smaller.

 

Voters clearly sent the message that they don’t want Trump and the GOP messing with their health care or with Social Security and Medicare. Majorities voted for congressional candidates committed to Medicare for All—for getting rid of the health insurance companies altogether. The House controls the purse strings, so the people can look forward now to no more fooling around with government shutdowns—a pastime of the Tea Party crowd in Congress. With the House out of his control, Trump can no longer push through major legislation packages, such as his tax cuts for the rich.

 

Floridians, meanwhile, voted to put 1.5 million people who had paid their debt to society for felony convictions back on the voter rolls. This will make it much tougher in the future for right-wing Republicans to get elected in that state.

 

In suburbs across the country, the results reflect a virtual revolt against Trump. By 6:30 Wednesday morning, the numbers coming in from suburban districts pushed the Dems into a pick-up of at least 28 seats in the House, well over the 23 they needed for control.

 

On the downside, Trump’s appeals to fear and racism again resonated with millions of workers in deep red states and elsewhere. That resonance enabled the GOP to successfully defend Senate seats in Texas and Tennessee and gain seats in Indiana, Missouri, and North Dakota.

 

While the appeals to hate and voter suppression contributed to a narrow loss for Andrew Gillum in Florida and to Stacey Adams trailing in Georgia, there were important gains for progressives in the gubernatorial races, including Democratic wins in Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, and Nevada. Especially sweet for the labor movement and its allies was the defeat of Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

 

Another landmark gubernatorial win was that of Jared Polis in Colorado, where he will become the nation’s first gay governor. Down ballot, more history was made as a record 129 LGBTQ candidates were elected to state legislatures around the nation.

 

The results of Tuesday’s voting put the country on a new footing. Despite the gains made by progressive forces, the election was only the beginning of a long hard struggle. The Democratic Party still needs to strengthen its economic message on the national level heading toward 2020 in order to further expose Trump’s spin about how only the Republicans can be trusted to manage the economy and create jobs. Simply relying on the president’s missteps and outrages is no strategy.

 

History teaches that the right wing and its corporate backers will continue their battle to hold the people back and reverse course on any gains made. Tuesday’s result was a welcome first step and a victory. History also teaches that the people can be counted on to fight to hold onto the gains made in the elections in November 6 and expand them even more. (IPA Service)

 

 

The writer is editor in chief at Peoplesworld.org.

The post Left democrats make steady advance in u.s. Mid-term poll appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.

IPA Newspack

IPA Special

Nepalese Prime Minister’s Four Day Visit Bring Ties With India Closer

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

What Will Be India’s Response To US’s Bid To Offer NATO+ Membership

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Narendra Modi Has Been Most Successful In Using Technology For Governance

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Law Commission Parrots Views Of BJP, RSS Rather Than An Expert View

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Rahul Gandhi’s Alternative Vision Can Be A Good Basis For June 12 Discussion

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Labour Market Recovery Still Under Hostage Of Multiple Crises

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Erdogan’s Presidential Win Is A Clear Loss For People Of Turkiye

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

July 23 General Election In Spain Is The Test Of Left For Its Political Survival

June 3, 2023
Happening Now

One of Independent India’s worst rail accidents

June 3, 2023
Politics

Cong slams BJP for criticising Rahul’s remark on IUML

June 3, 2023
Politics

SGPC flays Rahul Gandhi statement about Guru Nanak

June 3, 2023
Politics

Kejriwal asks Cong to choose between Constitution and Modi

June 3, 2023
Politics

‘Free power’ parties will have to pay some way: Minister

June 3, 2023
IPA Special

Opposition Can Follow A Five-Point Approach To Defeat BJP In 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Bigger Muslim Support To The Congress In Karnataka Poll Is A Positive Signal For 2024

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Kejriwal Gathering Opposition’s Support Against Centre’s Ordinance

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Modi Govt Is Planning To Make Sedition Law Stricter Before 2024 Polls

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

‘Deglobalisation’ Talk By Experts Means Tendency Of Western Powers To Discriminate Against China

June 2, 2023
IPA Special

Bengal BJP Revamps Its Campaign Strategy Focusing On Both Left And TMC

June 2, 2023
Happening Now

Law Commission backs sedition law with tougher punishment

June 2, 2023

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

Nepalese Prime Minister’s Four Day Visit Bring Ties With India Closer

June 3, 2023 5:00 pm | IPA Staff

By Arun Kumar Shrivastav During his 4-day India visit, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal completed formal engagements with the Indian leadership and is visiting...

IPA Special

What Will Be India’s Response To US’s Bid To Offer NATO+ Membership

June 3, 2023 3:37 pm | IPA Staff

By Girish Linganna In what could be a significant turning point in global geopolitics, the United States is reportedly contemplating extending an invitation to India...

IPA Special

Narendra Modi Has Been Most Successful In Using Technology For Governance

June 3, 2023 3:35 pm | IPA Staff

By Harihar Swarup Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed his Ninth Year as Prime Minister. Look at how he has already left his imprint on...

IPA Special

Law Commission Parrots Views Of BJP, RSS Rather Than An Expert View

June 3, 2023 3:34 pm | IPA Staff

By K Raveendran The Law Commission has taken a political stand in its report about sedition rather than a policy stand, which a body of...

IPA Special

Nepalese Prime Minister’s Four Day Visit Bring Ties With India Closer

in IPA Special
Jun 3, 2023   ·  

What Will Be India’s Response To US’s Bid To Offer NATO+ Membership

in IPA Special
Jun 3, 2023   ·  

Narendra Modi Has Been Most Successful In Using Technology For Governance

in IPA Special
Jun 3, 2023   ·  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow us on
Up Next: Demonetisation Is Crippling Informal Economy, Job Market
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved.
Newspack by India Press Agency | Statement of Ownership | Contact Us
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets