David Gordon 
Full Disclosure: This writer is a PC for LD 18.
In a post-election legislative district monthly meeting with Felicia Rotellini, the chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, present, a jubilant crowd filled the LD 18 Democratic office in Tempe as they celebrated the victory of 92 percent of the district’s Democratic candidates including the reelection of State Senator Sean Bowie, State Representative Mitzi Epstein, and the election of State Representative Jennifer Jermaine.
In 1824 John Quincy Adams, thanks to the Electoral College, became the President of the United States. Four years later, the popular vote winner in that election, Andrew Jackson won the first of two presidential terms.
In 1876 Rutherford B Hayes, in a questionable electoral college tally, beat popular vote winner Samuel Tllden for the Presidency. Tilden probably would have run again in 1880 but ill health prevented him. He would die in 1886.
In 1888 Benjamin Harrison achieved an electoral college victory over incumbent President and popular vote winner Grover Cleveland. Four years later, Cleveland would become the first President to serve two non-consecutive four-year terms.
In 2000, Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote over George W, Bush but a poorly constructed butterfly ballot in Palm Beach (where voters erroneously voted for the Pre Trump Pat Buchanan) and a Republican-friendly Supreme Court tipped the electoral college to George W. Bush. Criticized for the campaign he ran in 2000 (where he did not emphasize the peace and prosperity of the Clinton/Gore Administration), Gore decided not to run in 2004.
As other pundits in the national and local media have pointed out, It will be tempting these next several months to focus on the Popular Vote Loser’s (Presidents) tweets, outrageous comments and behavior, and potentially criminal acts that will be adjudicated in the courts.
Now that they will be in control of the House of Representatives, Democrats do have a responsibility to provide oversight of the Executive Branches actions that the Trump (Republican) Party failed to undertake. That is only right and proper.
Democrats and Progressives, in the federal government and in the state government offices they triumphed in, should also take this as an opportunity to advance progressive policies (both incremental and ambitious) that will further attract supporters in the rural, urban, and suburban parts of the country. They should attempt to create bipartisan consensus with the Trump Party but be prepared to fight for and campaign on what the Trumpists obstruct in the Senate and the Oval Office.
Yesterday’s lawsuit by Republican operatives (on behalf of the McSally campaign) to inhibit county recorders from verifying mail-in ballots with disputed signatures now that the election is over is an attack on our democracy and another stain on the military and public service of Representative/Colonel Martha McSally. Despite the rise of the Trump Party (The … Read more
Yesterday was a good beginning toward building a progressive governing majority in Arizona. Democrats appear to have prevailed in some state house races :
Democrats also prevailed in local contests (notably school board) laying the groundwork and foundation for future progressive advances.
Democrats should also take comfort in recruiting many capable and compelling local and congressional candidates who gave Republicans a run for their money and performed well against the odds. Hopefully, many of these candidates will decide to run again.
Youth turnout rose dramatically. Yes, yesterday was a good beginning.