2018 US Mid-Term Elections Chat Thread

[Jeric 46,851]

@Twiggy requested this topic last night and I completely missed his PM. Seeing as it’s Election Day I wanted to get this up since his was a great idea. This is a general discussion on today’s mid term elections in the United States. This is not meant as a drag out debate. Behave please. 

For some of us, voting is very important, regardless of our ideological leanings. Just some conversation starters. 

So who here voted?

Any particular candidates you hope to win in your State and in others? 

How was turnout in your precinct?

Most people focus on the Gubernatorial and Federal levels, but were there ary Amendments or Props that you had on your ballot  that were interesting? 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT! As returns come in let’s be calm and respectful of each other’s values. As much as you may disagree, how someone voted is not a complete indictment of their character since there is a wide range of reasons to drive someone to a specific candidate or issue. For instance, as is typical I voted for both Republican and Democrat candidates and issues. I am one of those mythological Independent types. I have a lot to say about the state of the Florida elections that I’ll go into later. 

 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

If I could vote, I'd vote Republican

[KH7672 1,604]

There's actually an old School Board member on the PA ballot, and he was such an awesome guy, I'm tempted to vote him in...problem is I don't know anyone else on the other ballots and I always hate voting ill informed (even back in Class Elections )

[Denim&Venöm 19,031]

I'm libertarian, but the party have zero sway and even less membership. So I compromised and went Republican for the Wisconsin elections. Even pre-voted. 

I voted to keep Scott Walker as our Govenor as he's been doing a good job over the last 8 years, and would like that to continue.

Also I approve of Bryan Steil to replace Paul Ryan in congress and continue his work. Both have similar ideologies so it should be a smooth transition. 

But for the most part, the democratic candidates are just absurd. Not even moderate democrats, this bunch is far leaning and are of questionable reputations. 

Especially Steil's opponent, Randy Bryce. He's been arrested 9 times. Sounds like the only reason the democratic party nominated him was due to him being a former iron worker, in an attempt to sway the conservative blue collar voters, of which there are many up here. They must be desperate. 

Also the youtube ads I got for Govenor candidate Tony Ievers are just plain obnoxious. 

 

[Castle Bleck 19,362]

24 minutes ago, Lucid_Nightlight said:

If I could vote, I'd vote Republican

I actually am voting Republican later today.

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

I voted for the first time ever, and I'm 19 years old. I'm in North Carolina. The voting was better than I imagined, and the staff were really nice and helpful. Anyways, I voted for all Conservatives. There were also many amendments on by ballet I voted for, and I basically voted yes for all of them. The only one I can recall of the top of my head right now is that is was something about giving people the right to hunt wild animals like deer or something like that, so I definitely voted yes for that one.

Edited November 6, 2018 by EpicEnergy

[DubWolf 17,263]

Yes I voted  . A week or two ago, for the Irish guy  .

[Will Guide 21,360]

I vote for whatever side is truly LGBT-friendly as well as respectful of all races. 

[Script Chime 184]

If I could vote it would most likely be democrat even though I see myself as a centrist with a bit more liberal values.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Script Chime

[Here No Longer 5,276]

Also for some of us, voting is completely pointless. I say that I have no intention of voting this year or any other. In Texas, you either get Nancy Pelosi types or far-right lunatics, so it's really hard to find anything to vote for, considering you either have to vote for a fake leftist that wants to ban guns and open the borders, or a fringe right maniac that want to pollute the environment as much as possible and destroy our constitutional freedoms while attempting to look like they're defending them.

All I can say is hoping who DOESN'T win the race for senate. Even though I really, really don't like Beto O'Rourke (his border policy makes me cringe), I'd rather have him win than Ted Cruz. Because I think Ted Cruz is among the worst of the worst. Heck, even Trump hates him and some of the problems I have with him are also most of the problems I have with Trump and of course just because he's a horrible person... Seriously, how does he think that a total dump on our 1st amendment rights will make him look good? Oh yes, it's because I live in a place where the far right reign supreme. Just the people to believe in something one moment and then abandon it another because their political views say so...

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

Ted Cruz will likely win, I'd probably vote for him if I was 18.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,532]

All I am looking forward to is the end of this total dumpster fire of an election season. Nothing but garbage. Knowing the odds Trump's people will win and continue us on this train wreck for years to come. Consider me apathetic.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Kyoshi

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

As a german, who saw this going down on the sideline, i would most likely vote a republican in, but in a general sense, since i don't have all the info on all candidates.

From all the things i saw, the democrats where mostly focusing on how bad Trump was, without really giving any sort of solution how to make the country/state better.

I would even vote for Ted Cruz in Texas and he is one of those very conservative republicans, that i usually can't stand. But that Leprechaun O'Rourke has an "everybodys welcome" plan and i find that way more risky, then keeping Cruz in office.

That's my 2 cents atleast

[Twiggy 2,966]

I actually voted early by mail. Voted for Cox for governor of California, and bit the bullet and voted Feinstein for Senate. 

As far as the California props go, I voted no on every new tax and fund as California politicians seem to have a bad habit of siphoning money for things that the vote wasn’t originally for. A good example would be the gas tax, which I voted to repeal, where the majority of it was funneled away from roads and bridges in order to pay of deficits so that the California government could spend elsewhere. Also gas is expensive enough as is. 

For local measures, the only thing I had strong feelings on was the legalization of recreational weed. My county was one of the few that kept recreational illegal because our county board members are corrupt/boomers. I hope to see them gone and the plant legalized. 

Curious as to what everyone thinks are winning conditions for the parties. I would keep it simple and say that Republicans keeping both chambers is a win, Dems winning both is a win for them, and Dems taking the house and Reps keeping the senate is a draw as everyone gets something.

Whatever the results, be cool to each other. Thanks again for making the thread @Jeric

[MangoFoalix 24,961]

For me? I voted Republican and/or Conservative. I'm in New York, so voting Republican is kind of hard to do. Well, not exactly but let me explain. NY is a blue state and is highly libertarian. I myself am not even in the Democratic party, so I didn't even go for it.

Also yes, you can kill me. I did vote for Trump originally back in 2016.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Cast my votes for Manchin and Ojeda here in deep red West Virginia. Considering I'm about as anti-Trump as they come in this state and that Morrisey and Miller advertise themselves as Trump's rubber stamps...yeah; no thanks. Staying blue; I am.

[Lucky Bolt 35,063]

I'm just one year short of being able to vote, unfortunately. Totally would've if I could've, this election is particularly important, especially here in Florida. And I'm just gonna be straightforward here and just say I'm 101% supporting the Republicans, therefore Ron Desantis would be my vote for Florida governor. Florida would be taking a huge step back if Gillum is elected governor. Oh how I wish Rick Scott could stay our governor forever. I hope he gets Florida senate. He's the best we've ever had. 

Edited November 6, 2018 by Lucky Bolt

[Phosphor 11,529]

I stayed home on the last 2 election cycles, but not this time. I use to vote for a mix of Republicans and Democrats. I consider myself to be pretty libertarian, but I voted Republican for all the federal candidates this morning. I don't like the direction the Democrat party is going.

There weren't any ballot initiatives for my state, this time. I usually write in Drew Brees for all the local elections, but decided to mix it up with some MLP characters. Apple Bloom for circuit court judge sounds fine to me. 

[Jeric 46,851]

Florida is usually pretty cookie cutter with mid-terms. This year there are some really curious measures on the ballot as well as candidates. I technically split my ballot. The Governor race is a choice between a hard Conservative who doesn’t represent the full interests of Florida and someone who would be a lame duck for the entire term because he is too Progressive and again doesn’t represent Florida political diversity well. I’m not the type to vote based on symbolism. In Florida our Legislative body has the full control regardless of who occupies the seat. Gillum will not be able to enact his agenda so voting for him basically would force a steady course for the State. I’m fine with that. So he got that vote. 

I voted for Rick Scott over Bill Nelson for two reasons. One, Rick Scott has proven to be less Conservative than many suspected, and even instituted new subsidies for Florida In-State tuition if you enter a tech or business program. Bill Nelson on the other hand has basically been an absentee Senator for some time. He needs to go. 

I voted for Bill Posey for my House Rep since he is honestly a safe pick. I also know him and he isn’t a bad guy. 

Now, the Amendments. I voted to allow Floridians to reject Casinos in the future should they desire to do so. Any law that gives voters greater control and influence over their community fits with my general ideology. 

I voted for re-enfranchisement of non violent felons who have completed their sentence/probation. 

I voted for the increase of the homestead exemption in non-school districts. 

I voted for the requirement of a Supermajority to pass new State taxes or fees. 

I voted to end dog racing in our state. I’m fine with Casinos but my local track isn’t taking care of the dogs as well as I would have liked.  Also dog racing never felt like it fit with my approach to welfare (I’m on the welfare side of the animal scale and in opposition to the rights side). 

 

This is is going to be interesting to see what happens. 

[joanro 247]

I already voted. I am hoping Beto O’Rourke wins, but Ted Cruz will most likely win. It’s a shame though because Cruz’s campaign is nothing but trying to scare people(and looks like it’s working). To me nothing he talks about are what I would consider real issues. 

[RiseofSpectrum 359]

If I was an American citizen, I would have voted for the Republicans, to be fair. It is true any party on the Executive branch needs a strong opposition on the houses, but I don't like the direction in which the Democratic Party is going.

[Retro*Derpy 3,185]

To be honest, I don't care much for who takes the house. I did my research though, mostly voted independent. I was more interested in the amendments for Missouri.

Spoiler

Lots of hot topics, like lobbying, minimum wage increase, gas tax, and medical marijuana.

Though Missouri has 3 medical marijuana bills and if you vote yes on all of them you basically cancel your vote out. As someone who would benefit from it, I feel having 3 just hurts the polls.

I felt split between Prop C and Ad. 2 seeing as I prefer prop C but it can be shot down or heavily edited by lawmakers while ad. 2 isn't quite as good but is more set in stone. I ended up voting for both since if both pass there will be a good chance a court will decide anyway.  Amendment 3 is too sketchy to go with; having a self-funded campaign to create your own state agency that controls all state cannabis intake seems more like a monopoly then helping doctors and patients. He sets all his own rules for what he wants and not has to go through any other state regulations or agencies. Not to mention Bradshaw has tried to sue the rival bills so only his bill will be on the ballot.

I voted yes on the minimum wage increase and lobby regulations. No on the gas tax (not that gas isn't expensive already) as the "funding for traffic bottlenecks" wasn't really going towards that, more just to increase state government wages.

 

[Dark Qiviut 22,423]

Voted for the entire Democratic ticket (including *gag* Cuomo), along with "yes" to all three Questions on the reverse side of the ballot. I would've voted for Howie Hawkins (Green) for gov, but Molinaro cutting the lead and Cuomo trailing among independents is cutting it too close. I won't risk having a Trump puppet in Albany.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Dark Qiviut

[MoonPetal 18]

:c I forgot to register to vote, my work got in the way but I would have voted democratically 

[RiseofSpectrum 359]

19 minutes ago, MoonPetal said:

:c I forgot to register to vote, my work got in the way but I would have voted democratically 

I'm pretty sure voting is a democratic thing in it of itself.