Blue Wave? Well, to throw some surfer patois at you (thank you, http://www.surfing-waves.com/surf_talk.htm, for the hook-up) it was no Pipeline – more a Clean Set – and may end up an Ankle Buster that turned into a Pumping Reform. Yeah. You heard me. This is not your father’s Election Night Post-Mortem!
Let’s take a look:
The House:
Leading up to the 2018 Midterms, the House was 235 R – 193 D, with seven vacancies, for a total of 435 seats. As of this writing, Dems now hold 225 seats, the GOP won 197, and there are 13 up for grabs. Of those races that are still too close to call, 10 are leaning Democrat.
When all ballots are counted and all races called, the House could be 235 D – 200 R. We will have 55 Barneys (new members), and as many as 100 Bettys (women), including our own Wahine from the LV, Susan Wild – Slotted, Amped and Stoked throughout the campaign (yay, Susan!) who rode a Bomb to best her challenger, Marty “I Need a Rail Banging” Nothstein.
It was a time for new blood: Gremmie Kendra Horn pulled an Epic Layback, upsetting Republican Rep. Steve Russell in Oklahoma’s 5th District. There was some serious Cranking in Virginia, as Jennifer Wexton, Abigail Spanberger, and Elaine Luria caused their Male GOP opponents a serious Mullering.
But was it a Blue Wave? Well, according to political scientist Jacob Smith, from 1918 to 2016, the president’s party has lost an average of 29 House seats in midterm elections. Presumably, then, the loss of MORE than 29 seats would constitute a “wave.” If Republicans prevail in all 13 outstanding races, the tally would be 225 – 210, for a loss of 25 seats. If the Dems prevail on 10, as predicted, the GOP will have lost 35 seats. Sounds like it could be Stacking Up to a potential Thundoar.
The Senate:
The Upper Chamber is another story – a real Mushburger for Dems: Heading into Tuesday, the make-up was 51 GOP, 47 Dems, and 2 Independents, including Grey Belly Zimzala Bernie Sanders. Thanks to some Shoulder Hops from DJT, many GOP candidates Slashed and it was Firing, and as of today, the GOP has held 51 seats, the Dems are at 44, with 2 Independents.
Potential Cinderella Brah Beto O’Rourke was Raked Over early on but looked to be on the Lip before getting Caught Inside, Locked In, and, ultimately Licked. Another victory for incumbent Ted Cruz (people are saying he’s an Aggro Beach Leach who likes to Drop In). In Pennsylvania, Lou Barletta went Over the Falls as Bob Casey was Trim in the Tube.
Three races are too close to call: In Arizona, the fight between Sinema and Sally has gone back and forth; Sinema now leads by 9,000 votes, but roughly 400,000 ballots have not yet tabulated, suggesting that there could be more Clidro in the days to come.
In Florida, Rick Scott (he seems like he would be a Shubie Frube) is sitting on a razor-thin, 0.2% (representing a difference of 15,071 votes). A projected 7,000 – 10,000 votes remain to be counted, but some media outlets suggest that at least 25,000 ballots from Broward County cast votes in the gubernatorial election but not in the U.S. Senate race. Rick Scott has lodged allegations of voter fraud but has not yet disclosed the basis for those allegations. All predictions tend to favor Scott.
Mississippi will hold a runoff election since none of the three candidates received over 50% of the vote. The Republican candidate, Cynthia Hyde-Smith, is heavily favored over Democratic challenger Mike Espy. The runoff election will be held on November 27, 2018.
When all is said and done, the GOP will hold the Senate, with a likely total of 53 to the Dems 44 and 2 Independents – the Sinema/Sally election could go either way – but it could be Stacking for Sinema. In any case, Dems lost 2 or 3 seats.
State Elections:
In state races, Democrats flipped seven governorships. Georgia is still too close to call, though Stacey Adams seems to be getting Worked in a Washing Machine and headed for a Dirty Licking, while the nicest thing you can say about her ethically-challenged opponent, Brian Kemp, is that he’s a Clucked Kook-y Paddlepuss.
Republicans flipped one governorship in Alaska – Mike Dunleavy was in the Green Room all the way. Two secretary of state offices (Colorado and Michigan) flipped GOP to Dem. Andrew Gillum is hoping for some way to hold on; conventional wisdom says he’s probably Noodled.
As for ballot measures, I’m totally Frothin’ that Florida has voted to make dog racing illegal while the folks in Massachusetts have voted to protect the rights of the transgendered.
And there you have it, your Surf-Time Election Wrap-Up.
You’re welcome. Now go Hang Ten. (Michael, you can Hang Eleven).
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