By Steve Benen
<...>
From coast to coast, Democrats and progressive goals not only won, but in most instances, won big. Some of the highlights:
OhioDespite the aggressive efforts of the Republican Party, Gov. John Kasich, and anti-labor forces, voters easily overturned restrictions on collective bargaining. With nearly every precinct reporting, Issue 2 got crushed, 61% to 39%, handing unions a major victory with national implications.
Mississippi In a terrific surprise, voters soundly rejected the proposed “Personhood” amendment that would have banned abortions, birth control, in-vitro fertilization, stem-cell research, and treatment of ectopic pregnancies. Opponents of the right-wing effort appear to have won about 57% of the vote.
Maine Republicans recently ended Election Day voter registration. Yesterday, voters brought it back, 61% to 39%.
<...>
But the good news for the right was easily overwhelmed by good news for the left. In
Kentucky , Gov. Steve Beshear (D) cruised to an easy victory and Dems won nearly every statewide race; in
Arizona , Democrats successfully recalled radical state Senate President Russell Pearce (R); Dems won a key state Senate special election in
Iowa and will maintain control of the chamber; voters ignored Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) efforts in
New Jersey and kept Democratic majorities in both chambers of the state legislature; and voters in
Michigan recalled a far-right Republican state representative, the first-ever successful recall in state history.
more