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Election open thread

by — ,

I just got to the Ale House, and will provide commentary and results as I find ’em. Feel free to scream, shout, celebrate, and weep in the thread.

7:02: Okay…according to Lee’s twitterfeed here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from all around:

47% voter turnout predicted by Sam Reed.

KY Governors race is a 21% spread for Democrat Steve Bashear.

With 1/3 of precincts reports in Mississippi, Initiative 26 (fetal personhood) is going down 60% to 40%.

In AZ, it looks like Russell Pearce (author of the anti-immigration law, SB 1070) is on his way out…53% to 45% with an unknown percent reporting.

7:12: Pro-union is voting to reject Ohio’s “Issue 2” that would repeal limits on collective bargaining. I mean…if The Twitter can be believed.

7:15: Virginia Senate is currently 22 D to 18 R. It is starting to look like Dems will retain their Senate majority.

7:17: It looks like Republican Phil Bryant wins for Mississippi Gov. Too bad…I heard an NPR piece about Democrat Johnny DuPree last night, and he was very intriguing. Sadly, Mississippi will have to wait to have its first black Governor.

7:24: As an aside…It seems to me that there is some type of metaphor here: Herman Cain reaching up the skirt for America’s genitals. On the other hand, Herman Cain pulling America’s head toward his crotch seems like an even better metaphor….

7:56: Just before WA results start coming in, I’ll shamelessly steal a summary from DailyKos on called races:

  • All KY statewide races (D), except Ag Commish (James Comer, R)
  • All MS statewide races (R), except AG (Jim Hood, D) & Treasurer (uncalled)
  • OH Issue 2 (good guys)
  • ME Question 1 (good guys)
  • MS Initiative 26 (good guys)

8:15: Very early results from a couple of counties (Franklin, Lewis, Kitsap, some of Pierce):

I-1125 (Kill transportation infrastructure): 52% yes to 48% no
I-1163 (Health care workers): 66% yes to 33% no
I-1183 (Costco’s Law): 62% yes to 38% no

8:26: I-1125 is now down by 1.5% with just under a million votes counted. Tim “Biggest Lie of My Life” Eyman is reportedly already trying to spin this as a “moral victory”. And by that, we mean, he got rich hawking the initiative.

8:30: AP calls I-1183. Get ready to cancel your Costco membership!

8:34: Jane Hague is up over Richard Mitchell 54% to 46% with 28% reporting. Booooooooooo!

8:41: In King County, with 25% reporting, I-1125 is losing 60% 40%.

8:42: For Seattle City council I hear incumbents all the way. Being a Redmond resident, I don’t really care.

8:44: I’m sitting next to Lee, and he is FORCING me to let you know that Initiative 1 in Tacoma (Makes pot possession lowest priority for law enforcement, like a similar thing in Seattle some years ago) is winning big time! [Update: 65% to 35%]

8:49: The other statewide recall this election is in Michigan HD-15, where Republican Rep. Paul Scott is being recalled. I’m seeing tweets that it is very close, but it looks like he has been recalled.

8:52: Dem. Reardon is winning in Snohomish. I’m not really a fan of Reardon, but Hope (R) is one scary motherfucker!

8:54: The most important statewide issue on the ballot this election is I-1125, that would restrict tolling, shut down light rail, and cripple Washington’s transportation infrastructure for years. As the vote trickles in, it becomes clear that the initiative is going down.

8:58: Old news now, but in Arizona, Wingnut author of anti-immigration law, Russell Pearce (R) is outta dare! This election has a certain amount of “extremism will not go unpunished” to it

9:17: In case you were wondering, Sherril Huff will continue to be KC elections director.

9:25: I-1125 is still down, but the margin has narrowed to 51% NO to 49% YES.

9:33: Surprise of the night: I-1125 is losing in Garfield County. Really? Garfield joins King, Snohomish, San Juan, and Jefferson counties? Well, it is only losing by 2 votes out of 864 (so far). But still….

Comments

  1. 1

    47% voter turnout is pretty bad. Over half the voters in the state are complacent or could care less about the issues

  6. 6

    Shit! Mary Vernor’s trailing David Condon for mayor of Spokane.

    In the FTW column, Ben Stuckart’s for Spokane’s city council president.

  7. 7

    It’s neck and neck for the Gig Harbor city council. Go Jill!

    Jill Guernsey 933 51.38%
    Robert (Bob) Frisbie 878 48.35%

    Guernsey will suck slightly less then Frisbie.

  9. 9

    Ha! The editorial staff at the Tacoma News Tribune isn’t qualified to suck my balls.

    City of Tacoma – Initiative No. 1
    YES 16,888 64.64%
    NO 9,240 35.36%

  10. 10

    @8
    Not necessarily, 1133’s passing 66-33%. That’s government and isn’t going to be cheap.

    Looks to me like people want a much more narrowly focused government and are willing to pay for the things they care about.

  11. 11

    State Elections readout!
    KEY MEASURES YES NO I-1183: Privatize liquor 60% 40% I-1125: Tolling 53% 47% I-1163: Long-term care 66% 34% Seattle $60 car-tab fee 40% 60%
    Government 1, People 3

  12. 12

    Government 1, People 3

    thats the kind of score it should be.

    @8
    Looks to me like people want a much more narrowly focused government and are willing to pay for the things they care about.

    shit, isnt that what govt is supposed be?!?!?!

  13. 13

    @11
    Yep, they’re narrowing the focus of state government. But, they’re also narrowly favoring the more liberal folks in the city council races.

    I-1163 isn’t government 1. It’s really government 0. I-1163 is a followup to an initiative that passed a couple of years back the the government set aside. People are saying that, they want granny and their autistic cousin well cared for.

  14. 14

    @12
    It’s what’s going to have to happen regardless of what people think they might want. We’re broke and we’re not going to get out of this hole any time soon.

  15. 15

    8:44: I’m sitting next to Lee, and he is FORCING me to let you know that Initiative 1 in Tacoma (Makes pot possession lowest priority for law enforcement, like a similar thing in Seattle some years ago) is winning big time!

    The News Tribune’s editorial board pulled out all the stops saying passage of Prop. 1 was the end of the world. I love it. At least we can get high while we watch the world come to an end.

  16. 16

    @14

    true that….and a bigger, tax hungry govt sure as hell isnt the answer…

    hopefully, people are finally getting it.

  17. 17

    THe privitazation of liquor has been a no brainer to voters, its time to get the government out of the private retail business, we cannot afford that any longer

  18. 18

    true that….and a bigger, tax hungry govt sure as hell isnt the answer…

    A smaller, adequately funded, government is the answer and we’re still going to need to raise a bit of cash to get there. We’re going to have to fund I-1163 for starters.

  19. 19

    So Washington voters don’t care that the liquor bill was skewed toward big business and they don’t care about small business. They also will believe any horse shit flung at them as long as it comes in a pretty package. Fuck Costco

  20. 20

    Roger I owe you a shot of Costco purchased Woodford. And It looks like a won’t be paying a lifetime long toll to get it to you!

  21. 21

    I-1125 (Kill transportation infrastructure): 52% yes to 48% no

    Haven’t you heard the news? Driving’s down all over the place. There’s 4 million fewer cars on American roads today then there were at this time last year. Next year will be the same. This might be a blessing in disguise.

  22. 22

    If there’s a sunny side to this election it that Woodford’s Reserve wont cost $35 a fifth any more.

    I think it’s $35, I can’t afford to buy it very often.

  23. 23

    @19
    But, they don’t want granny shoved in the corner in some ADF and and left there, ignored, in a soiled Depends, all day either. ;-)

  24. 24

    King county votes are going against Timmie’s initiative. It’s the big middle finger to that asshole

  25. 25

    @22

    not to worry Micheal, the state will impose a special booze tax to make up the difference…you will see it within 24 months.

  27. 27

    I’m miffed at Mary Vernor trailing in the polls. But, that’s what happens when you piss off your base by supporting a crooked cop who’s been found guilty of murdering a mentally ill homeless guy.

    Live and learn I guess. Unless you’re a mentally ill homeless person in Spokane.

  29. 29

    @18

    I dont mind paying more – but first the govt has to prove to me that it isnt spending the money on bullshit stuff first…then, and only then, will I vote to open up my pocketbook more than it already is.

  30. 30

    How it will cost more to lay off hundreds of state workers, close down state owned liquor stores, transportation, stocking, etc etc etc is beyond me.

  31. 31

    @24
    Someone in Seattle needs to run an initiative succeeding Seattle from the rest of the state of WA and turning it into its own city state. Hell, Seattle’s got the cash to do it. I say go for it.

  32. 32

    I love Costco–
    Just bought a big strip of Ribeyes.
    I cut my own. Real thick.
    Great Wine–
    Now some Cognac.
    One stop shopping.
    F&ck the State employees unions.
    Welcome to unemployment and the real world a$$holes.

  34. 34

    @30

    How it will cost more to lay off hundreds of state workers, close down state owned liquor stores, transportation, stocking, etc etc etc is beyond me.

    The state liquor stores were revenue positive. The questions are will the fees that stores will pay to the state bring in the same more more cash than the stores did and will the increased access to hard liquor increase the costs to the state from drunk driving and such. I think the juries out on those.

  35. 35

    @33
    Not until your (and my) tax bill went up after they left. Seattle pays the bills around here.

  39. 39

    @20 Find my burrow in Green Lake Park and drop it down the hole.

    @30 Won’t Costco have the same costs?

  40. 40

    @32 Why are state liquor store clerks assholes for wanting to make a living at a job that pays $28,000 a year? And it’s a hard job — they have to lift heavy cases of liquor, sweep floors, and deal with customers like you.

  41. 41

    If there’s a sunny side to this election it that Woodford’s Reserve wont cost $35 a fifth any more.

    Drunk wingnuts on cheaper booze means more wingnuts wrapped around telephone poles.

    Just kidding! Anne Coulter humor you know!

    Fuck Costco! At least Eyman is getting beat. Apathy is killing this state.

  42. 42

    @33 I’m all for cutting off the subsidies the rest of the state gets from Seattle taxpayers.

  44. 44

    @42
    I’m one of the folks that would be getting the tax hike after you guys left. But, it would be worth it to see the looks on my righty neighbors faces when their taxes went up.

  45. 45

    Without question tonight’s closest election is in Virginia where a recount will determine control of the state senate.

  48. 48

    Initiative 1163 winning in ALL counties.

    The Tacoma News Tribune’s editorial board came out hard against this. Ha! Ha! Fuck you TNT.

    This is also a win for the SECIU, but not nearly as big of one as the editorial boards and the no on I-1163 folks would have you believe.

  50. 50

    Okay, here’s the situation in Virginia (per Washington Post):

    GOPs have the governor, Lt. governor (who casts tie-breaking votes in the state senate), and lower house. Dems went into this election with a 22-18 seat advantage in the senate. As things stand now, it’s Dems 20, GOPs 19, with 1 race too close to call.

    In that race, with all poll and absentee ballots counted, the Democrat trails by 86 votes — but an “unknown number” of provisional ballots remain to be counted tomorrow. Also, Democrats complained about “discrepancies” in vote tabulation in that race. With the stakes so high, a recount seems like a sure thing.

  51. 51

    @44 You always have the option of moving back to the civilized portion of the state. =:-D<

  52. 52

    Roger I said i’d share a shot with you. The rest I’ll need to listen to how Obama has bettered this country…ha ha

  53. 53

    We won. Unions won, working people won, the progressive movement won, Democratic prospects in Ohio in 2012 won. It’s worth a celebration. It’s worth honoring the tenacity with which the good guys fought this awful bill. It’s worth looking at the snowplow driver or the city engineer down the street from you and remembering that they’re not the enemy and that their fight is your fight. And it’s worth as many reminders as it takes to get the pundits to realize the significance of this vote when they’re assessing what went down in the 2011 elections. Then, as always, we get ready for the next fight. Because the Koch brothers and the Liz Cheneys and the John Kasichs and Scott Walkers and Rick Scotts aren’t giving in just because they had it stuffed back in their face once. They want to drive us all so far into the dirt that we’ll envy and turn on the person earning minimum wage for a full 40 hours a week, because he or she will look like a high-on-the-hog elite to us. And this fight remains about refusing to do that.

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/.....via=blog_1

  54. 54

    Obama is now sweatin’ like the pig he is.

    The seat that could determine whether Democrats hold on to a majority is the 17th District, where Democrat Sen. Edd Houck trailed his Republican challenger, Bryce Reeves by 86 votes. The results fall within the margin required to call for a recount.
    According to a Houck campaign statement posted by the Albemarle County Democrats:
    The race for this seat remains too close to call. Wednesday morning canvasses have yet to be held, and provisional ballots throughout the district have yet to be counted. Also, there were several significant discrepancies during Tuesday night’s tabulation that deserve further attention during the canvassing and certification process. We look forward to monitoring this situation throughout the district to ensure that every vote is fairly and accurately counted, and we expect that Senator Houck will ultimately prevail in the final outcome.

    In the Republican-controlled House of Delegates, the GOP picked up at least six seats.

    As The Washington Post reports, “going into Tuesday’s vote, Republicans had the edge in nearly every other way — they raised millions of additional dollars, recruited more candidates and benefited from an increasingly unpopular Democratic president and an increasingly popular Republican governor.”

    Obama can say good-bye to Virginia.

  56. 56

    Is the web site of the Democratic Party of Washington really wa-democrats.org? I can’t believe the crap that they have against Prop. 1183. Christ on a crutch, that shit is weak.

  57. 57

    Did you guys see this? Here’s Joel Connelly on the PI’s website commenting on last night’s action, specifically the $60 car tabs:

    It was the brainchild of an insular echo chamber of liberal authoritarians in the Emerald City who purport to do what they judge is best for all of us.

    The players include Mayor McGinn, Councilman Mike O’Brien, the Sierra Club-Cascade Chapter, Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, and an insufferable, self-important local political web site.[Ed. Emphsis mine]

    I think that makes us Playahhs!

  58. 58

    @35

    I don’t mind paying more…..if that’s the cost of getting from under the thumb of seattle, then so be it.

  59. 59

    I think this will be the trend of 2012 too…not a swing liberal vs conservative per se, but a rejection of the crazy extremists (re: Tea Party, everyone I don’t like is a NAZI, lookout for the Mexicans, etc). I think this is wearing on people. You can only shout and scream and froth at the mouth for SOOO long before people just say “oh shut up!” and folks start looking for sane normal people.

  60. 60

    http://crooksandliars.com/karo.....eys-tea-pa

    November 09, 2011 08:00 AM
    Virginia Voters Hand Statehouse Keys To Tea Party By Razor-Slim Margin

    By karoli

    The one dark spot in the midst of was an extremely encouraging election night for progressives is Virginia.

    Via Washington Post:

    Virginia Democrats’ hopes of maintaining its hold on the Commonwealth’s upper house were very much in doubt late Tuesday, hinging on a razor-thin count in a single Senate district.

    When the ballot-counting ended for the night, longtime Spotsylvania incumbent Sen. R. Edward Houck (D) was 86 votes behind Republican challenger Bryce E. Reeves. Absentee ballots have been counted, and an unknown number of provisional ballots will be counted Wednesday.

    Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) early Wednesday morning declared victory on behalf of Reeves in the 17th District, which encompasses Fredericksburg and parts of five downstate counties.

    Craig Bieber, Houck’s campaign manager, said the race “remains too close to call” and noted “several significant discrepancies during Tuesday night’s tabulation that deserve further attention during the canvassing and certification process.”

    Republicans need a net gain of three seats to seize outright control of the Senate; a two-seat gain would leave the GOP with a working majority on the Senate floor, with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling able to break tie votes, but unable to dominate committees.

    86 votes in a low turnout (!!!!) election. And yes, there have been voting anomalies.

    The state Board of Elections said there had been “isolated issues” at some polls but characterized them as “normal Election Day issues.”

    In the Washington region, some counties reported only a handful of problems on Election Day, but others experienced dozens of baffled voters at individual polling places. That was most often the case in Fairfax County, due to redistricting.

    But local elections officials characterized the problems on Tuesday as minor.

    The Brad Blog has more:

    Coakley told me the county is using a new electronic poll book system made by Decision Support of Charlotte, NC. It’s the first time the e-pollbooks have been used there.

    “It was a programming…a logic error in the upload of the data,” Coakley explained. “We have 200,000 voters in Henrico, 954 of those voters were incorrectly shown as registered at different precincts.”

    As the problem was discovered, and as voters who didn’t show up in the e-pollbooks were being given provisional ballots, the precincts were eventually told to fall back to the paper pollbooks that they have on hand for backups. The paper pollbooks had the registrations listed correctly, according to Coakley.

    “The paper came in very hand today!,” Coakley, who said he’s familiar with this blog, explained.

    After moving to the backup paper pollbooks, voters were allowed to vote as usual…on 100% unverifiable Direct Recording Electronic (DRE, usually touch-screen) voting systems made by Winvote, rather than on paper. Coakley said they haven’t had any problems with those systems today. They’ve been using the DRE machines since 2005.

    Ohio and Virginia couldn’t be stronger contrasts in the power of democracy and the people. In Ohio, more turned out to vote against Issue 2 than turned out to vote for John Kasich. In Virginia, people didn’t bother to show up, and those who did were not guaranteed their vote would count.

    Yeah…bingo, asshole. Big Win. in a redredredredredred state.

  61. 61

    http://crooksandliars.com/karo.....defeated-a

    November 09, 2011 06:00 AM
    SB 1070 Promoter, State Senator Russell Pearce Defeated In Arizona

    Good job, Arizona!!! Corrupt, hateful Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce was defeated soundly tonight by a moderate Republican, Jerry Lewis. Lewis took 53 percent of the vote in a low-turnout election.

    Pearce, as you might recall, was the author and promoter of SB 1070, the odious immigration law that nearly turned Arizona inside out. It seems voters were unimpressed with his xenophobia and his corruption.

    Via CampaignMoney.org:

    “Voters in Mesa sent a strong signal to lawmakers at the state capitol today: Arizonans want politicians working for them, not for special interests,” said David Donnelly, director of Public Campaign Action Fund’s Campaign Money Watch project. “Pearce’s anti-immigrant positions may have made him into a controversial figure, but it was his love of campaign cash, special interest perks, and opposition to Clean Elections that led voters to kick him out of the Senate.”

    What this election and others around the country proves is that democracy is not dead in this country. In Mississippi, Maine, Ohio, Kentucky, and Arizona, voters stood up and told the Koch brothers they don’t own our government, despite their best efforts to do so. It also proves that the message of the Occupy movement is one that resonates deeply with voters across this country, who are not automatons voting party lines without thought to what they are doing. The cynical ideas of Republicans and Koch-bots across this country are being rejected out of hand.

    Power to the people.

    The anti-teabag, anti clownservative, anti-1% backlash is beginning.

  62. 62

    http://crooksandliars.com/susi.....s-really-u

    Election Results: Once Voters Really Understand The Republican Agenda, They Reject It

    By Susie Madrak

    Apparently it’s not too late. Even rank-and-file Republican voters have rejected some of the most extreme Republican laws in yesterday’s elections. A clearly chastened Ohio Gov. John Kasich, ringleader for the extreme ALEC agenda, had to concede defeat as Senate Bill 5, legislation to decimate collective bargaining by state employees, went down in flames.

    In the state of Mississippi, voters decided zygotes did not meet the legal definition of personhood — or even corporations. (Helped along by the fact that even Haley Barbour said the wording was too vague, so it may resurface.)

    In Maine, voters retained same-day voter registration, despite attempts to repeal it by their Tea party governor and his minions.

    Democrats took just about every position that wasn’t nailed down in Connecticut municipal elections.

    Iowa Dems held the State Senate tonight, which means marriage equality in Iowa is safe.

    Arizona recall voters took down wingnut Senate President Russell Pearce.

    Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky takes a second term.

    The anti-teacher Michigan Republican State Rep. Paul Scott is successfully recalled.

    Missoula, MT said no to corporate personhood.

    NJ Dems won two more seats in races where Chris Christie campaigned for the Republicans.

    More added as it comes in, but all in all, it’s a really good night for Democrats and/or sanity.

    UPDATE: Looks like Virginia falls to Tea party control. Problems with voting, possible recounts on deck.

    Really.

    Voters REJECT policies and politicians that are out to deliberately SCREW them.

    What a shock…

  65. 65

    @55
    And had Verner gotten re-elected she would have been Spokane’s first two term mayor since something like the late 1970’s.

  66. 66

    I’m not so much worried about Cain shoving his hand in our pants to diddle our naughty bits as I’d be about him and his pals picking our pockets.

  67. 67

    “Get ready to cancel your Costco membership”

    Not to mention, get ready to take some profit on your Costco stock (Right, Roger?)

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