We didn’t get the Red Wave. But we got the Big Crack. The turnout for this mid-term election was huge, and political landscape shifted. Yes, the Republicans did make some gains. The House is still undecided, but will likely go for the GOP with a much smaller margin then they hoped. The senate is hanging out there with Arizona and Nevada races too close to call just yet. If they split between the parties, the runoff in Georgia between Democrat Warnock and Republican Walker will determine who controls the senate. We have to wait until December sixth. Donald Trump was the big loser. He endorsed crazy MAGA candidates in the primaries who even fellow Republicans thought would be losers in the general election. There was a big miscalculation in all important Pennsylvania.
Trump backed Republican State Representative Doug Mastriano. He is the poster child for an extreme MAGA conservative who thought God would help him over any obstacles and bring him victory. He is against abortion. His quote, “My body, my choice is ridiculous nonsense.” He also said, if elected, he could confiscate any voting machine he wanted in the future. He was outside the Capitol on January 6th. You can’t find a worse candidate. He was clobbered by State Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a moderate Democrat with a strong election history in the state. More about him in a moment.
Trump was reported raging in Mar-a-Logo election night as his world started to crack and potentially crumble. He was blaming everyone from Fox News’ Sean Hannity to his wife Melania for backing Dr. Oz in the Pennsylvania senate race. Oz, of course, lost to Lieutenant Governor John “Hoodie” Fetterman as he was recovering from a stroke. Fetterman personified small town, hard working Pennsylvania against a millionaire, out of state celebrity who seemed to be running just for something to do. Fetterman won back the seat formerly held by Republican Pat Toomey who retired. A critical pick up for the Democrats who need the seat to have a shot at retaining control of the senate
It’s been reported that Trump was planning to announce his candidacy next week for a third run at the presidency after what he thought would be a triumphant mid-term for his endorsed candidates. Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, who knows Trump better than any reporter, says aides are trying to talk him out of it and urging him to wait until after the Georgia run off in December.
The biggest winner this week is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He was re-elected in a landslide. He is confident, arrogant and in command in Florida. After Trump supported DeSantis four years ago, he now sees him as his most serious threat to run for the Republican nomination in 2024. As he always does, Trump labeled DeSantis with a demeaning nickname, “Ron DeSanctimonious”. Trump has even threatened to reveal dirt on DeSantis if he runs. This is all driving many in the Republican Party to start to think it’s time to move on from Trump and the lies. DeSantis is young, smart and devoted to taking on what he calls the “woke” culture.
This brings me back to Josh Shapiro and the future of both parties. Shapiro is the anti-DeSantis. A moderate from a big northeastern state who has worked his way up from a young congressional chief of staff, to a state representative, a county commissioner and Attorney General. Some have even speculated he could be the first Jewish president some day. They are both in their mid to late forties. They have both come off impressive victories in big important states. Both parties are looking for new leadership to replace the seventy year olds who have warn out their welcome. Both parties can claim some victories this week and we will know more in the coming weeks when all the votes are finally counted. But the fight for the future of the country looks like it could go through Pennsylvania and Florida.
I like it. “…the big crack.” And you make a good point re Shapiro and DeSantis who are polar opposites, but yet perhaps joined at the hip as the possible future of their respective political parties. Always a pleasure reading your thoughts.
Well written and thought provoking as usual. The fact that Herschel Walker was duped into thinking he was qualified to run for the senate is as tragic as the many who voting for him when he repeatedly demonstrated absolutely little grasp of the myriad issues facing the country is tragic. I am afraid the running back has endured a couple too many hits in his career and should be checked for evidence of CTE.