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A few thoughts about last night’s elections:
1. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is a very popular incumbent governor. The Democrat also comes from a political dynasty within the Commonwealth. The gubernatorial race was always going to be an uphill climb for Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron. So, don’t listen when the DeSantis crowd tries to blame this loss on Trump. It’s not true. Meanwhile, every other Republican on the ticket CRUSHED their opposition.
2. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has faced stiff opposition from within his own party. Lots of issues internally. But he had Trump’s endorsement and won. Meanwhile, every other Republican on the ticket CRUSHED their opposition in landslide victories. President Trump campaigned heavily for Reeves, but don’t expect the DeSantis team to give him any credit.
3. The Virginia races? That’s a question for Gov. Glenn Youngkin (the political darling of the GOP and the Never Trump movement.) The Republicans were expected to maintain control of the State Senate and retake the House of Delegates. Republican party leaders thought a Youngkin victory would propel him to enter the 2024 presidential race and challenge Trump. Those plans have been thrown out the window. But the issue may have been Youngkin’s tough pro-life position. Democrats used the messaging to get out the vote. Again, it’s about the messaging, folks — how you frame the debate.
4. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the abortion issue has been on the ballot eight times and it has resulted in eight losses for pro-lifers. There’s no way to spin what happened in Ohio. Pro-lifers suffered a devastating loss and many unborn babies will lose their lives. Republicans need a better strategy and a better marketing plan. But that was nearly impossible to do because they were outspent by nearly $10 million. No money + bad messaging = disaster.
5. But there could have been another reason for the Ohio debacle. Many Millennial and Gen Z pastors have disengaged their churches from the culture war battles. They have taken great strides to make sure their pulpits don’t offend. The influence of the church has been neutralized. That’s why an overwhelming majority of Ohioans just enshrined birth date abortions in their state constitution. Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.
6. Democrats are crushing Republicans in fundraising and getting out the vote. Republicans were outspent on nearly every race. Ronna McDaniel, the RNC chair, needs to be held accountable. It’s unacceptable.
7. It’s sickening to see some in the DeSantis orbit celebrating Republican losses last night. But there’s a good many people in the party who are so consumed with Trump Derangement Syndrome that they are literally wishing for the demise of their own political party.
8. Unless the GOP unites and stops trying to destroy MAGA conservatives, there will be a bloodbath in 2024.
9. Believe it or not, some elections are just decided on local or state issues — not Donald Trump.