By Lawrence Eiden
Nearly a year ago, Donald Trump was elected the President of the United States and a year of escalated political stand-offs followed. Although the Republican Party held the House, Senate and the Presidential Office, little of the new Republican agenda has been accomplished and the President’s approval rating is quite low. Many Democrats hoped these low approval ratings would translate into electoral wins.
Last week’s elections have been more promising to the Democratic Party. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the Democrats won several impressive victories in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. According to Josh Martins-Caulfield, a Pioneer junior, “they (the Democrats) out-performed expectations, he said” These victories came a year after possibly the worst loss the Democrats have ever suffered. A number of Pioneers consider these victories a backlash against Trump and his ‘ugly politics.’ According to Gina Liu, an eleventh grader, “It’s similar to how eight years of Obama caused a lot of people to vote for Trump,” she said. Vanessa Soriano, an eleventh grader, agrees that these voting patterns show a backlash “Definitely, if people are against Trump’s actions they would vote anti-Republican right now,” she said.
In Virginia, the Democrats won 16 seats in the House of Delegates and the Governorship, which went to Ralph Northam (D). New Jersey elected a new Governor, Phil Murphy (D), and New York City reelected Democratic incumbent, Bill de Blasio. Political commentator, Carolyn Fiddler, says the Democrats are taking advantage of voter enthusiasm by creating strong well-positioned candidates. Pioneer student, Josh Martins-Caulfield, agrees that the Democrats are taking advantage of voter enthusiasm, but he says “I think it’s more about Trump not being able to govern more than the Democratic candidates.” Emma Pinnell, a junior, says Trump weakens the Republican party as a whole and is the reason for the Democrat victories.
Many think Virginian Governor-Elect Ralph Northam (D) ran a mediocre campaign ,but he managed to tie his opponent, Ed Gillespie (R), to Trump. Gillespie knew Northam would pursue such a strategy and tried to distance himself from President Trump, even refusing to let Steve Bannon rally for him. Even though Gillespie distanced himself from Trump, he employed a Trump-like platform during his campaign. Perhaps Gillespie thought that would persuade grass-root voters to elect him. Vanessa Soriano, a junior, believes the Republicans need to abandon this form of scorched earth politics. “If Trump and the Republicans keep going on as they are, the Democrats will continue to win,” she said. Soriano added, “if the Democrats want to win the next presidential election they should go more left, like Bernie Sanders.”
Danica Roem (D), the first openly transgender candidate, won one of the 16 seats in the Virginia state legislature. Roem beat Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who served for 26 years. Marshall (R) has described himself as Virginia’s ‘chief homophobe.' Jordan Vergollo, a senior, says “It’s shocking, in a good way, that Roem won.” Vergollo believes these Democratic victories will continue. “I think that a lot of people are tired of Trump and his type of politics and unless Republicans change, the Democrats will gain more power,” he said.
In New Jersey, the Republicans lost the governorship and three seats in their state legislature. This is not surprising considering former Governor Chris Christie's (R) mid-teens approval ratings. Jordan Vergollo says the Republican candidate for Governor, Kim Guadagno, lost because of her connection to Christie. Guadagno was Christie’s former Lieutenant Governor. “She (Guadagno) lost because of her relationship with Christie and his (Christie’s) actions during his term,” he said. The Governor-elect, Phil Murphy (D), argued Guadagno (R) would represent a continuation of Christie’s administration. Again, the backlash against modern day Republicanism is evident.
It is apparent that many Pioneer students believe the wins the Democrat party experienced correlates to the dissatisfaction and mistrust the population has against the current Republican party.
Nearly a year ago, Donald Trump was elected the President of the United States and a year of escalated political stand-offs followed. Although the Republican Party held the House, Senate and the Presidential Office, little of the new Republican agenda has been accomplished and the President’s approval rating is quite low. Many Democrats hoped these low approval ratings would translate into electoral wins.
Last week’s elections have been more promising to the Democratic Party. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the Democrats won several impressive victories in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. According to Josh Martins-Caulfield, a Pioneer junior, “they (the Democrats) out-performed expectations, he said” These victories came a year after possibly the worst loss the Democrats have ever suffered. A number of Pioneers consider these victories a backlash against Trump and his ‘ugly politics.’ According to Gina Liu, an eleventh grader, “It’s similar to how eight years of Obama caused a lot of people to vote for Trump,” she said. Vanessa Soriano, an eleventh grader, agrees that these voting patterns show a backlash “Definitely, if people are against Trump’s actions they would vote anti-Republican right now,” she said.
In Virginia, the Democrats won 16 seats in the House of Delegates and the Governorship, which went to Ralph Northam (D). New Jersey elected a new Governor, Phil Murphy (D), and New York City reelected Democratic incumbent, Bill de Blasio. Political commentator, Carolyn Fiddler, says the Democrats are taking advantage of voter enthusiasm by creating strong well-positioned candidates. Pioneer student, Josh Martins-Caulfield, agrees that the Democrats are taking advantage of voter enthusiasm, but he says “I think it’s more about Trump not being able to govern more than the Democratic candidates.” Emma Pinnell, a junior, says Trump weakens the Republican party as a whole and is the reason for the Democrat victories.
Many think Virginian Governor-Elect Ralph Northam (D) ran a mediocre campaign ,but he managed to tie his opponent, Ed Gillespie (R), to Trump. Gillespie knew Northam would pursue such a strategy and tried to distance himself from President Trump, even refusing to let Steve Bannon rally for him. Even though Gillespie distanced himself from Trump, he employed a Trump-like platform during his campaign. Perhaps Gillespie thought that would persuade grass-root voters to elect him. Vanessa Soriano, a junior, believes the Republicans need to abandon this form of scorched earth politics. “If Trump and the Republicans keep going on as they are, the Democrats will continue to win,” she said. Soriano added, “if the Democrats want to win the next presidential election they should go more left, like Bernie Sanders.”
Danica Roem (D), the first openly transgender candidate, won one of the 16 seats in the Virginia state legislature. Roem beat Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who served for 26 years. Marshall (R) has described himself as Virginia’s ‘chief homophobe.' Jordan Vergollo, a senior, says “It’s shocking, in a good way, that Roem won.” Vergollo believes these Democratic victories will continue. “I think that a lot of people are tired of Trump and his type of politics and unless Republicans change, the Democrats will gain more power,” he said.
In New Jersey, the Republicans lost the governorship and three seats in their state legislature. This is not surprising considering former Governor Chris Christie's (R) mid-teens approval ratings. Jordan Vergollo says the Republican candidate for Governor, Kim Guadagno, lost because of her connection to Christie. Guadagno was Christie’s former Lieutenant Governor. “She (Guadagno) lost because of her relationship with Christie and his (Christie’s) actions during his term,” he said. The Governor-elect, Phil Murphy (D), argued Guadagno (R) would represent a continuation of Christie’s administration. Again, the backlash against modern day Republicanism is evident.
It is apparent that many Pioneer students believe the wins the Democrat party experienced correlates to the dissatisfaction and mistrust the population has against the current Republican party.