Congratulations, progressives of California!

[David__77]

While it does appear possible that two congressional seats were lost (McNerney and Costa), we have won every statewide race, with the possible (with the possible exception of the attorney general race). We have reclaimed the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, and returned Sen. Boxer with a comfortable majority.

There are no losses in either legislative chamber; in fact, I am proud to say that it is likely that the author of anti-gay Proposition 8, Andy Pugno, has likely been defeated in his bid to win a Republican-held assembly district in suburban Sacramento. His opponent, Richard Pan, ran an extremely good campaign focusing on abortion rights. Democrats will likely have a 52-28 assembly majority, and a 25-15 senate majority.

While not every state proposition went the way I wanted, the budget may not any longer be held hostage by the minority Republicans - simple majority will rule. Jerry Brown will hopefully take it to the people: which way forward for California. I am full of confidence in their decisions.

I do realize that the fact that I am a "citizen" of California perhaps insulates me from the reactionary mood in much of the country. For that reason, I miscalculated the outcome of the national races. Perhaps now I will stick to California prognostication!

[melody]

1. My grandparents made the decision to come to California many years ago

I will always be grateful to them that they had the courage to leave their home in Arkansas and go west.

Even our Republicans are Democrats. lol

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Costa was a Blue Dog so, frankly, there's no real loss there.

He had the tepid support of some Republicans but Vidak was strong and well funded. Costa, I think, just assumed he had it in the bag. He's never been the brightest bulb in the drawer anyway.

As for the 19th Congressional District (formerly held by Radanovich), the Democrats threw up a sacrifice candidate. NO SUPPORT. NO CAMPAIGNING. NOT ONE SIGN. Waste of $3,000.00 if you ask me.

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. "the budget may not any longer be held hostage by the minority Republicans"

Prop 25 did not change the 2/3rds majority to raise taxes so until that gets changed we will still be held hostage to rural pro-corporate RW extremists.

[Kajsa]

4. Let's see the glass half full here, OK?

The Repubs can no longer have us in a stranglehold every damn
June 30th!

We CAN pass our state budget on time now!

Hey- if I concentrated on everything that went wrong last night,
especially for my city and state assembly seat, I'd be jumping off
the Newport Beach ( my neighboring city) pier right now!!

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. The glass is always full.

Sometimes it has more air than liquid, sometimes less.

...

...

(ducking)

I hear you. Frankly, I did not think 25 had a chance. That is passed is somehow reassuring in a small, cautious way.

[Kajsa]

6. LOL!

:toast: to Prop. 25!

[4lbs]

7. With nearly all the major state offices going to Democratic candidates, the passing of the

"simple majority to pass budget" amendment winning, and the state legislature staying solidly Democratic, guess what this means?

A state single-payer health care plan will likely finally be enacted in the near future.

The state legislature actually passed such a plan several times in the past 8 years, but Guvvenah Ahhhnold vetoed it and we didn't have the 2/3 to override it.

That won't happen this time.

:D

[bemildred]

8. Yep, Ahnuld won't get to veto it this time.

And don't forget the law to bypass the electoral college, that could be a big deal in two years.

[David__77]

9. Even better than I thought... McNerney will be safe.

So we did lose one seat, a Blue Dog Jim Costa. He was better than a Republican, so it's bad seeing him go, but retaining McNerney is far more important. This Vidak character that defeated Costa can be redistricted out of existence soon enough. The central valley sucks politically until progressives mobilize to register the Latino citizenry there. And more than that, we need to fight for the path to citizenship for the NON-citizens there and elsewhere. McNerney disappointed progressives sometimes, but his is a traditionally right-wing district that is trending our way. We needed to keep it.

Also, I can confidently say that Andy Pugno, lawyer for Proposition 8, has been defeated for state assembly. He managed somehow to lose what was traditionally a right-wing district - I grew up here. It hasn't had a Democrat represent it since the 1980s. So we only need two Republicans to peel off to get two-thirds in the Assembly - biggest majority since 1976.

And, finally, Kamala Harris will in all likelihood narrowly win Attorney General. The Republicans will rightly have no statewide voice. It'll be close - under 20,000 votes, but she'll pull it out.

Perhaps paradoxically, this is the most progressive election California has ever had!

[katty]

10. Whew! we are happy here in CA-this is Jerry's final push

and he appears to be energized and Gavin Newsom!