Democrats Cheer, but They May Have to Do Better in 18.

[elleng]

'After a year of high-profile moral victories in special congressional elections, Democrats finally got actual victories on the board, and more. They won big in Virginia, took full control of state government in New Jersey and Washington State, prevailed on an important ballot measure in Maine, and generally posted strong results across the nation.

Together, it was the clearest sign yet that college-educated white voters’ unhappiness with President Trump would jeopardize suburban Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.

But the biggest difference between Tuesday’s Democratic wins and the earlier Republican wins is deceptively simple: This time, elections were held on neutral or even Democratic-leaning terrain.

For that reason, it is not obvious that Tuesday’s performance represents a significant improvement over the Democrats’ showings earlier in the year. In 2018, they won’t always get the luxury of competing in such favorable districts. To take the House next November, they might have to do even better than they did on Tuesday.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/08/upshot/the-other-virginia-elections-and-what-they-mean-for-2018.html?

[SandyZ]

2. I am going to take the cheer and feel good about the wins.

Lots of people working at making this win insignificant.

[RandySF]

4. This was an off-year election

Dems will be even more excited to vote in the higher profile races in 2018.

[DarthDem]

5. Ah, the Contrary View

Well, someone had to espouse it. I guess?

P.S., New York Times writer, throwing out at least 15 Goopers out of heavily mandered Virginia HOD seats IS winning on hostile terrain. So is seizing almost all the row offices and council seats in the counties surrounding Philadelphia. And there are eight or so vulnerable GOP-controlled House seats in California alone, a third of the needed total. Pretty flawed analysis if you ask me.

[MFM008]

6. Winning is my happy place

[BlueMTexpat]

7. Ah well,

playing down REAL accomplishments.

I guess that someone has to do it.