Christmas mornings are filled with anticipation. Everyone looks forward to unwrapping presents. And in the spirit of giving, there are gifts for all.
Democracy confers gifts as well, offering nearly every voter something. As election day draws near, voters eagerly await results. They hope to see their favorite choices prevail. Many will not. But it’s likely that most voters will end up supporting at least one or more successful candidates. For example, voters that supported a losing presidential candidate can still find success with their House or Senate choices. Or a voter’s mayoral pick may lose but state House and school board selections win.
Consider this year’s elections. Republicans scored several high profile victories: They took back the White House, the Senate, and secured a majority in House of Representatives. Trump’s popular vote percentage was the highest of his three campaigns and the first time in 20 years a Republican won the popular vote. And in a shift not seen since 1980, the Republican presidential candidate gained in every state – compared to the previous election.
Still, Democrats were not left empty-handed. They flipped several House seats in California and New York, cutting the Republican majority to its smallest size since the beginning of Great Depression. Moreover, in four swing states that Trump carried – Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin – the Senate Democrat won. Keeping these seats significantly reduces the chances of Republicans overcoming a Democrat filibuster.
Democrats also experienced several historic victories. Delaware’s Sarah McBride will be the first openly transgender member of the U.S. Congress; Andy Kim of New Jersey will be the first Korean Senator and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks and Delaware’s Lisa Blunt will be the first pair of Black women to sit in the Senate at the same time. Closer to home, Democrat Sharice Davids recorded yet another victory in the 3rd congressional district. This marks the fourth straight election where she comfortably beat the Republican opposition.
A majority of Johnson County voters again supported a Democrat for president; the second time in over 100 years. Riley, Shawnee, Douglas, and Wyandotte counties joined Johnson County in voting for Harris. In addition, Johnson County elected its first Democrat sheriff in nearly a century – Byron Roberson, strengthening the county’s identity as an emerging Democrat stronghold.
Not to be outdone, Kansas Republicans maintained their supermajorities in the House and Senate, prevailing in nearly all contests that were considered crucial to the power struggle in Topeka. And Republican Derek Schmidt defeated Democrat Nancy Boyda to represent the 2nd Congressional District, joining the state’s two other congressional Republican winners.
Most voters will thus be part of a winning coalition, whether it be for the office of president, state legislator, county clerk, city council, or the local water board. That matters. Research shows that when people vote for a winner, they are more satisfied with elections and more supportive of the way things work.
Elections are not zero-sum events. There’s an abundance available, though some voters will certainly win more than others. If you’re still feeling like you got a lump of coal, be patient – there’s an excellent chance that the next electoral cycle will make your wishes come true.