MIAMI – What’s next for the Republicans if they fail to score their “red wave”, predicted victories by many pundits and even some Democrats, in these midterm elections? They had all the issues – high inflation, high food and gas prices, open borders, underperforming schools, and high fuel prices. What issues could they win with this gale wind at the back of their heads?
Pennsylvania voters elected John Fetterman, a hardcore leftist who believes that many violent criminals should be freed from prison or not incarcerated. They didn’t seem to care about his stroke-related incapacity to speak clearly.
Florida was a bright spot for Republicans. Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio both had great nights. Both won by close to 20 points. DeSantis likely increased his presidential prospects for 2024, despite the fact that Trump is likely to announce next week that Trump is running again.
These powerful victories are largely due to the massive migration from other states to Florida and its expanding Hispanic communities. Democrats had wrongly hoped Hispanics would vote for their candidates. It was the exact opposite. The flipped were Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, which had been overwhelmingly Democratic for decades. DeSantis is the first Republican in Miami-Dade to win in 20 years.
Tuesday night’s victory speech by DeSantis electrified the crowd when he said that Florida was where the woke agenda will die. He also blamed that agenda for people fleeing liberal states to seek “the promised land.”
He stated that he had kept his promises to voters regarding COVID-19, reopening schools, and business reopenings. He shouted, “Freedom’s here for the taking!” to wild applause.
It could have been a speech to launch a presidential campaign. This is possible depending on Trump’s legal problems. DeSantis called for “failed leadership in Washington.”
Florida also demonstrated how to conduct an election. Florida also has a “find your ballot” app that allows voters track their ballots in the same way as they track a package or letter, or a checked bag on a plane. The software allows voters to know when their ballot arrives at the counting station and when it is opened. It also tells them when it is counted. This software greatly increases election integrity and trust that the outcome is valid, as well as protecting against conspiracy theories. Florida should be the national model. They’ve come a long distance from being “hanging chads”, in the 2000 presidential election.
After all votes have been counted, and even if Republicans win a slim House majority, they can still block much of the Biden administration’s agenda. Will Democrats move toward the middle and embrace moderation instead of waking up? Will the left allow them to?
It is unlikely that the media, which is always there for Democrats in defeat and cheer them on in victory, will change. It is likely that violent criminals will continue to be locked up. This is because politicians whose policies have contributed crime – like winning the governorship – are likely to continue failing to lock up violent criminals. Kathy Hochul, New York – is unlikely to do much to stop it because she is denial about the problem.
People who feel happy or are able to breathe easier because of the election result now have to accept its consequences. Inflation, high food and gas prices, and open borders are all likely to continue. Republicans still have a lot to do to change voter attitudes. If the country survives, it may take another two years of suffering.
