General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn future elections, I would like to see more emphasis on down ballot races.
The presidency is important. So are congress and the state legislatures.
Losing state legislative seats and a governor sucks especially during redistricting year. The house is going to be closer and the senate a tie most likely. Thankfully kamala will break ties IF every democratic senator agrees to changing to 50 votes.
dlk
(11,561 posts)States, especially, have considerable power when it comes to elections.
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)The state houses of several states, including Texas and Florida, were heavily targeted this cycle, and some of the highest-profile, expensive races ever took place at the Congressional level.
Could there have been more? Probably, though districts were targeted specifically because it was believed they were flippable and they were key to regaining state houses. It remains to be seen why so many voters seem to have split tickets, especially in places like Maine.
dlk
(11,561 posts)It needs to come from the top of the ballot.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)for example, the "mid-term" elections usually have lower numbers than in the years of presidential elections. At the same time, there are lots of us who work equally hard -- at the very least -- on local and state elections.
dlk
(11,561 posts)There also needs to be more support for down ballot races from the top of the ticket. They could easily mention their importance and with their national presence, it would have an impact.
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)There was plenty of emphasis on that race, and Biden is going to win the state easily.
Why were so many voters splitting tickets? Emphasis isn't necessarily the end all solution. We need to understand why we won states at the top of the ticket but lost high-profile races like hers down-ballot. It's not because it didn't get enough emphasis.
Similar situation in races like the Wendy Davis and MJ Hegar campaigns in Texas. They got national attention, millions were spent, their opponents were perceived (perhaps incorrectly) as vulnerable and in the end, it wasn't even close in either case. We also spent millions on targeted state house races in TX, MI, FL, and others that were considered flippable, mostly to no avail.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)that I saw going toward the Trump campaign. I started to see flashbacks to 2016. Trump was holding 3, sometimes 4 rallies a day, our side was doing maybe 1 a day, very infrequently 2. I really believe that shift in enthusiasm and the republican ground game using actual people to knock on doors, made this race a lot closer than it should have been, some marginally Biden people shifted toward Trump in those closing weeks, and I believe that hurt down ballot races significantly. We cant have a repeat of the Obama Presidency, where national races were won easily while Congressional, state level and local democrats were wiped out - in the end, that makes making needed change very difficult and empowers people like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell to throw roadblocks up.
dlk
(11,561 posts)It all adds up.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)All that person has to do is imply that something important would be said, as Trump did regularly. In addition, Trump got attention due to his unpredictability, there was never certainty about how he would act or what he would say. When a car is on fire on the side of the road, people dont just breeze by in their cars, they slow down to look - the Trump campaign had the element of impending psychosis constantly following it, that drew media, which in term got him on local news.
dlk
(11,561 posts)Rick Wilson has said that outside of Portland, Maine is another Alabama.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)That has to be done by state and local parties.
From what I've seen, there was a lot of emphasis on the state, county and local races. They just don't get as much coverage nationally, which makes sense, but they do get a lot of of local coverage.
jimfields33
(15,787 posts)Voted Biden and rest repugs. 3 neighbors did. Anecdotal I know.
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)Biden's going to win it easily, yet Collins won her race easily, as well. We didn't lose because of a lack of emphasis - there was more emphasis on that race than any race in recent memory.
jimfields33
(15,787 posts)I thought she would go down even more so then Senator kelly winning.
dlk
(11,561 posts)We cant underestimate that fact which makes emphasizing the importance of down ballot races all the more critical.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,329 posts)dlk
(11,561 posts)Also, every spokesperson and in ads.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,329 posts)LAS14
(13,783 posts)femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Our down ballot races were a disappointment, most going republican while Biden won our state. How did we lose those House and state legislature seats?
We have to buckle down now and work for Ossoff and Warnock so we can get rid of Mitch in January!
dlk
(11,561 posts)Something happened and going forward, we need to figure out how to overcome this type of split result. Change cant happen with one hand tied behind our back.
Yes, to working in Georgia! Im concerned about the integrity of their electronic machines and not sure the most effective way to address it
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)And although wonderful things were done during that Presidency, they were not drilled into concrete because we had lost so many state houses, legislatures and Congressional seats.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)That needs to be done at the state and local level and that requires people getting involved in their communities.
Too many of us expect the national candidates and parties to do all the work when much of the work should be done by us in our own backyards.
dlk
(11,561 posts)I dont believe messaging their importance is a waste of time. Without a majority in the Senate and House, we cant get anything done.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)were not using the massive amount of small donor money that was raised, it should have been coordinated better, IMO. What I mean is that locals from the state level to city council should have consistently been featured at rallies, and there should have been a stronger and more diverse ground game than was done. Trump people were out knocking on doors, although we believe in the power of wearing masks and practicing intelligent social distancing, we stayed in our bunkers basically and relied on bought media to deliver our message.
dlk
(11,561 posts)Phone banking is all good and well but nothing is better than personal contact.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)Yes, the presidency got the national media coverage but in my market the key races were WELL covered.
A huge presidential decision actually helped in the efforts toward getting votes down ballot. Not enough to flip any seats because unfortunately Ohio and Kentucky both I believe are getting "redder".
I could be wrong, but I believe some of this is because enough people of color are moving out of this part of the country. Quite frankly it's leaving a void of educated people and leaving behind too many who think the Bible is the only ejukation they need.
dlk
(11,561 posts)I dont think it wasnt the same all across the country. Thats why this message has to be given from the top, so everyone hears it.
GoneOffShore
(17,339 posts)dlk
(11,561 posts)Our country cant survive with the continued minority rule in so many areas.
GoneOffShore
(17,339 posts)Some Republicans voted for Biden but chose Republicans down ticket.
Still the margin for the Senate race should have been closer.
dlk
(11,561 posts)However, I strongly believe if Biden/Harris had made more mention of the importance of down ballot races, it would have made a difference.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Tons of TV coverage, televised debates, and news coverage of 'down ballot', ballot initiatives, etc.
dlk
(11,561 posts)Im thinking thats what was needed on a national basis, from the top.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)"All politics is local."