So, bit of a busy week, huh?
I’ll have more coverage of the election after this wild week, but here are some results and trends from around the region that so far have caught my eye:
Nationalized campaigns in Arizona and Montana: Democrats saw the senate races in Arizona and Montana as some of their best shots at taking control of the chamber, and there are important takeaways from those two races.
In Arizona, incumbent Senator Martha McSally framed opponent Mark Kelly as a stooge of the Democratic establishment, and constantly tried to associate him with Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Chuck Schumer, and other lawmakers who symbolize a too-diverse, too-progressive America to those in the far right. The strategy didn’t work: Kelly won the senate seat, and Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Arizona since Bill Clinton in 1996.
But Montana Republicans deployed national political talking points to far greater effect. Incumbent Senator Steve Daines was able to fend off popular Governor Steve Bullock in part by positioning himself as a check against liberal Democrats. Bullock’s successor, Greg Gianforte, similarly aligned himself with President Trump, but didn’t assail his opponent like McSally did.
Arizona and Montana are radically different states; Democrats may have done better in Arizona because the state is more urban and is seeing its demographics change quickly. But Montana’s Republican sweep could have taken place because politicians there presented themselves as part of a team defending a set of beliefs, while McSally and other Arizona Republicans took a more Trump-like strategy laced with personal attacks.
Either way, polarization reigns. One route just looks a bit nicer.
This story first appeared in the Bitterroot Newsletter. Sign up below to receive our latest reporting right in your inbox.
Criminal justice reform in Oregon and California: Protests following the death of George Floyd may have sparked meaningful criminal justice reform in Pacific states. Oregon voters passed Measure 110, which will decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs. The measure also boosts funding for treatment programs, mental and physical health assessments, and other services for those experiencing addiction. It’s a landmark law, and the first of its kind in the U.S. People of color historically have been disproportionately imprisoned on drug charges.
Meanwhile, in California, parolees will soon have the right to vote, and Los Angeles voters passed a measure to boost county spending on jail diversion programs, mental health care, and housing.
Drama in Nevada: Elections officials in Nevada said counting ballots could extend through the weekend, and the Trump campaign is challenging the legitimacy of ballots (though it offered no evidence of fraud).
Great memes emerged. But officials in Nevada and other states with close counts, Arizona included, were growing concerned about protests.
Latino vote confusion: In an interview with the Los Angeles Times’ Brittny Mejia, the founder of a pro-Biden Latino political action committee says folks think about the Latino vote all wrong. “Me and you are having a conversation about Latinos and why they underperformed, when in fact Joe Biden won Latinos in Florida statewide, while losing white people. That’s who we should be talking about.”
Wolves win: Colorado voters opted to reintroduce gray wolves to the Western part of the state. It’s the first time wildlife management like this has been decided by voters, and it’ll be fascinating to see if this sets a precedent.
And COVID rolls on: Concerning COVID-19 news keeps piling up: Utah’s intensive care units are dangerously full of coronavirus patients. Amid record cases, Idaho doctors are begging Governor Brad Little to implement a mask mandate. New cases are nearing all-time highs in Arizona, and deaths are climbing in New Mexico.
I’ll have more for y’all next week. Try to relax this weekend.
