Elections took place in Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi and New Jersey on Nov 7.
These elections took place about a year before the 2024 Presidential election and provide some clues on what will happen during those elections. Overwhelmingly, democrats had a good night, winning the Kentucky Governorship, taking full control over the Virginia State Legislature and holding on to the New Jersey state legislature, in addition to having abortion rights and marijuana legalization referendums being passed in Ohio. Republicans did win the Mississippi Governorship in a race closer than a deep-red state is used to.
Kentucky
Governor Andy Besher won a second term against Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Besher won with a larger margin than he did in his 2019 victory. His campaign focused on his record as governor, moderation on abortion and bringing people together.
“Tonight, Kentucky made a choice, a choice not to move to the right or to the left but to move forward for every single family,” said Beshear during a campaign speech.
Despite Kentucky being a Red state on the Presidential Level, the Governor race has proven to be a national bellwether race. The party that won the last five Kentucky gubernatorial elections won the presidency a year later.
Mississippi
Governor Tate Reeves won a second term against challenger Brandon Presley. Democrats hoped Presley could defeat the unpopular incumbent Reaves. However, Reaves prevailed in the end.
“They don’t just want to change governors — they want to change Mississippi,” said Reaves.
Elvis’s second cousin did keep it somewhat close and won 47% of the vote to Reave’s 51.6%. For reference, Trump won the state with 57.6% of the popular vote and Biden got 41.08% in 2020.
Virginia
Democrats flipped control of the Virginia State House and held on to the State Senate. This is a blow to Republican Governor Glenn Younkin in both implementing his agenda in Virginia and marketing himself as an electable Republican for a potential Presidential run in 2024 or 2028.
Fears a Republican Trifecta would lead to abortion restrictions drove Democratic turnout.
“It’s official: there will be absolutely no abortion ban legislation sent to Glenn Youngkin’s desk for the duration of his term in office, period, as we have thwarted MAGA Republicans’ attempt to take total control of our government and our bodies,” said Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke.
Some students at Rancocas Valley thought the Republicans would take control of the Virginia state legislature.
“We were thinking it would be a united Republican legislature but it ended up being Democrats,” said junior Salma Doughty.
Ohio
Ohio voters passed measures enshrining abortion rights and legalizing Marijuana.
Despite being a Red State, Ohio voted for two liberal policies with comfortable margins.
Issue 1 was put on the ballot to protect abortion rights in Ohio after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Issue 2 was the issue of legalizing Marijuana.
These results follow national trends. Post Dobbs, voters all across the country have supported abortion rights and legalized marijuana at the ballot box.
“This is a case study and a warning for what will happen in Ohio,” said Spokeswoman for the anti-abortion group Protect Women Ohio, Amy Natoce.
There was an election in August over a GOP-backed measure to raise the threshold for passing a constitutional amendment from 50% to a 60% supermajority. The measure was put on the ballot to make it harder for Issue 1 in November to pass. Republicans backed the measure to make the abortion rights referendum in November harder to pass.
New Jersey
Democrats held onto both houses of the New Jersey state legislature. They gained six seats in the State Assembly and held on to all seats in the State Senate.
“This is a big night for Democrats,” Gov. Phil Murphy told NJ Spotlight News.
One of the six seats came from NJ District 8, which represents the RV area. Democrat Andrea Katz took a slight lead over Republican incumbent Brandon Uma after the AP called the race.
Due to the smaller nature of local elections, most students at RV were unaware of the elections happening across the country and in their home state of New Jersey.
“I heard there was an election, but I did it know what it was about,” said junior Zahra Karimi. “If I was old enough to vote I would actually think about it.”
Some teachers at RV, including math teacher Mr. Collura and English teacher Mrs. Sherman, were also on the ballot in local school board races. Both Collura and Sherman will join their local school boards this January.
