2016 and onwards

[progressive85]

2016

The polls were very close in the last week because of a new scandal over Hillary's emails (the early November surprise).  Democrats got the minorities out though and enough of them gave her small, but crucial victories in the electoral college.  Virginia was closer than expected (but D's held it), North Carolina went to Trump (but barely), and Florida went to Trump in a shock to Democrats, who were confident they'd win there.  The high Latino turnout in Arizona was not enough to make it blue.  Hillary lost Iowa and Georgia, which made Democrats very nervous.  Pennsylvania was extremely close, but was called for Clinton at 1:00 in the morning.  New Hampshire, again closer than expected, but ultimately handed to HRC.  Michigan and Wisconsin became redder, but Trump lost both.  Hillary's win in Colorado was the tipping point and she was only then safely assured her the Presidency.  Nevada's Latinos defeated Trump, leaving that ultimate swing state Ohio as the last one called.  By only a few thousand votes, it was won by the new President Clinton.  Hillary gives a highly emotional speech, cries, revealing a softer, more intimate person.  She speaks of her mother in particular and of the young girls who can become anything they want to be in America.  Donald Trump surprisingly concedes gently and with no outbursts or name-calling.  The Clinton Restoration has begun.

The Senate is still up for grabs by the next day because of the possibility of recounts and the razor-thin margins of victory in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Indiana.  Senators Grassley (IA), Burr (NC), Rubio (FL), Blunt (MO), and Portman (OH) all won re-election, taking away many potential pickups.  The Democrats need 4 seats and they got 2 early on: an easy win for Feingold in WI and a solid-enough win for Duckworth in IL.  They need 2 more...  A recount is called in NH and the new results show that Hassan's lead has increased.  Indiana goes to Todd Young in a startling and crushing defeat for Evan Bayh and the Democrats because they cannot get to the magic number 4.  Catherine Cortez-Masto holds Harry Reid's seat, but Pat Toomey is re-elected in the closest result of the night.  Despite losing the Senate, Republicans are now down to a 51-49 majority.  The question is: Will they finally hold hearings for Merrick Garland having lost the Presidency for the third time in a row?

Since there is no landslide for Hillary, the Republican House holds mostly all their 247 seats.  The ones that they lose were the most expected to go to the Democrats: Monica Vernon (IA 1), Val Demings (FL 10), Charlie Crist (FL 13), Ruben Kihuen (NV 4), Carol Shea-Porter (NH 1), Steve Santarsiero (PA-8), Pete Gallego (TX 23), and Donald McEachin (VA 4).  A big score for the Dems is Scott Garrett's defeat by Josh Gottheimer in NJ.