Election 2011 Makes Democrats Feel A Little More Confident

Issue 2 opponents cheer at a rally co-sponsored by the Cleveland Teachers Union as they heard yesterday's election results (AP)

Besides Mississippi voters rejecting a controversial anti-abortion measure, and upstate NY voters rejecting candidates with artsy nude photos, there were other big elections around the nation which gave a glimpse into the country's current mood. Ohio voters rejected an anti-labor law, Arizona voters recalled the extremist Tea Party-friendly state senator, and as a result, Democrats are starting to feel confidant again.

Voters in Ohio rejected the state’s new collective bargaining law—which banned strikes and weakened collective bargaining for teachers, cops, firefighters and other public workers—by a margin of 63 percent to 36 percent, marking a major victory for union's going into next year's election. “Ohio sent a message to every politician out there: Go in and make war on your employees rather than make jobs with your employees, and you do so at your own peril,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said.

Strategists for President Obama told the NY Times that the lopsided labor victory in Ohio was an indication that the country was swinging back on their side, and Obama is in good standing for Election 2012. “This week—one year before Election Day—and during yesterday’s elections across the country, we all took huge strides in accomplish these goals,” said Jeremy Bird, the national field director for Mr. Obama’s campaign. However, Republican National Committee communications director Sean Spicer pointed out that Ohioans also passed a measure that rejects health care mandates in the state, one of Obama's major first term policies. Spicer also pointed to major Republican gains in the Virginia state legislature as sign of Republican growth.

In Arizona, there was another rejection of extremism as citizens voted to recall conservative State Senator Russell Pearce, author of the controversial immigration status inquiry bill and an ally of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. “If being recalled is the price for keeping one’s promises, then so be it,” said Pearce, a hero to the Tea Party movement, who lost to comparatively centrist Republican Jerry Lewis.

“Republicans were rebuked for their partisan over reach and their anti-worker, anti-middle class, anti-immigrant and anti-women policies,” Brad Woodhouse, the communications director for the Democratic National Committee, said about the Arizona election. But Carl Forti, a veteran Republican operative who helps run political action committee’s on behalf of Republican candidates and causes, gave a much more measured take on this year's voting: “No real surprises and not sure it means much for next year,” he said in an email to the Times. ” A year is an eternity in politics.”

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on November 9, 2011 1:33 PM

Comments [rss]

da_veritas

I've always considered myself a Republican, but I am
also a union member. I'm so glad this message was sent
to the GOP yesterday in Ohio. I work for Verizon which is
a healthy profitable company. The CEO makes 300 times
as much as an average employee. The CEO is also
trying to take away pension/healthcare benefits and
sending jobs to India.This seems to be ok to all the
Republican politicians that are supposedly representing
me. To be honest it seems to be ok to most of the Dem
pols also. I will be giving my support next
November to the party that I feel will better represent the
middle class VS corporate greed. There's got to be
some sort of social contract. If I were rich wouldn't it be in my
best interest that the other members of society
(even though they are less fortunate than me) are
walking around with jobs, healthcare, and hope for a great
future? I am not talking about direct handouts here but
a system that provides the opportunity for a middle
class life for anyone willing to work for it. I don't
understand how we can have heartless CEO's
going after the healthcare/pensions of workers and even
sending American jobs overseas. And the
politicians who are supposedly representing us are also
millionaires who don't seem to have a
problem with this. This next election my top priority is who
will better represent the struggling American middle class.

Nikki May

It's kind of amusing that when the Republicans have major victories it's always a sign of a change in national mood for the next election. But when more "Democratic" victories occur they're "not sure it means much for next year.”

remyngtin

and Ohio's unemployment rate goes up again ... beware 2012

Mordicai

Because the decay of the Rust Belt is definitely something that started during the Obama administration. Yup, things were fine in Ohio until 2008.

matteus

Yay voters for using with intelligence. Now if only we can get Ron Wyden to run for president, we could give Obama the boot.

Mordicai

It is crazy that these are partisan issues. Right? Like, labor laws? There is a...divide on this stuff? Mind boggling. Legislation that would equate taking birth control pills to murder? Somehow opposing that is a "Democrat" thing? Wild times we live in.

Trustafarian

you lazy entitled baby killing liberal! get a job!!

Mordicai

If anything, I'M the real racist, because acknowledging the reality of racial discrimination in income, in executions, in employment, proves that I'm not colour blind like all those rich old white dudes.

GloriaMorfin

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