In every state that put abortion on the ballot (California, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont), voters seem to be pro-choice. Three pro-choice ballot initiatives passed, and two anti-choice initiatives haven't been called yet but are behind as of 7:30 AM.
That's the only clear, consistent signal. The Senate will still be narrowly split: either a slight Republican edge, or a slight Democratic edge, but close. (Of course, a 51-49 Republican majority would be enough to give them the chairs of all the committees, so they can sit indefinitely on any legislation or nomination they don't want to vote on, so even one seat matters.) The House will probably be Republican, but not heavily. (Ditto.) Marijuana legalization passed in two states and failed in two others.
From these results, and Kansas a few months ago, perhaps the pro-lifers will learn their lesson: that abortion is too important to be left up to voters. They can outlaw it in legislatures, as long as the legislatures are sufficiently gerrymandered to be immune to voter backlash. Or they can decide (contrary to what they've been saying for fifty years) that abortion should NOT be left to the states, it should simply be outlawed nationwide, because both the disproportionate Senate and the gerrymandered House are largely immune to voter backlash.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-11-09 12:46 pm (UTC)That's the only clear, consistent signal. The Senate will still be narrowly split: either a slight Republican edge, or a slight Democratic edge, but close. (Of course, a 51-49 Republican majority would be enough to give them the chairs of all the committees, so they can sit indefinitely on any legislation or nomination they don't want to vote on, so even one seat matters.) The House will probably be Republican, but not heavily. (Ditto.) Marijuana legalization passed in two states and failed in two others.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-09 03:22 pm (UTC)