Just because California didn’t have an election yesterday, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. There were elections and voting across the country in a number of important races, both on issues and candidates. And it looks like that anti-union, anti-abortion, and right-wing candidates and issues went down to defeat. Here’s a list:
- Anti-Union Law voted out: Ohio voters struck down a law supported by Republican Governor John Kasich that limited bargaining rights for police, firefighters and other state workers as a way for local governments to balance their budgets.
- Mississippi Against “Personhood”: Voters in Mississippi rejected a proposed state amendment that would have limited abortions by defining life as beginning with conception. Plus Mississippi voters rejected the amendment, which would have made Mississippi the first U.S. state to define a fertilized egg as a person, a controversial concept aimed at outlawing abortion, some types of birth control and infertility methods that result in the loss of embryos.
- In Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) was easily reelected to another term. Beshear was leading his race by more than 20 points at press time, despite his state’s conservative bent and Kentucky’s continued economic hardships.
- Voters in New Jersey fought off a well-funded Republican challenge and gained one seat in the state Legislature. This small victory prevented Gov. Christie, a national Republican star who raised money across the country for his party’s candidates, from continuing the winning streak he has enjoyed.
- Anti-illegal-immigration Arizona state Senate President Russell Pearce (R) – the architect of the state’s controversial immigration law – was recalled, and Jerry Lewis, a fellow Republican who does not support the immigration crackdown, was elected. Pearce was the top Republican in the state Senate.
- Voters in Maine ended a ban on same-day voter registration.
- Openly gay and lesbian candidates nationwide also scored big victories on Tuesday. At least 53 of the 75 candidates endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund won their races. Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Charlotte, N.C. all made history by electing their first openly gay candidates to city council.
- Michigan Republican state Rep. Paul Scott was recalled by voters . Scott was chairman of the House Education Committee, targeted by the Michigan Education Association for policies that weakened teacher tenure and cut education funding.
It wasn’t all good news for progressives and Democrats.
- Mississippi did approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
- Republicans gained seats in the Virginia legislature, and were on the verge of taking over the Virginia Senate and clinching control of all of state government for only the second time in more than a century.”
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