For a non-Federal election year, yesterday's election results were still pretty big news, and - in the big picture - pretty important. The presidential election gets all the attention every 4 years, but it's at the state and local level where The People can have their voices heard the most. It's state and local legislation that will have the most direct effect on our lives.

The results of yesterday's elections are a huge rebuke to Republicans, and their over-reach in trying to control people's personal lives. In Ohio, voters chose (by about 60% to 40%) to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitution, and make pot legal for personal consumption. In VA, not only did Democrats maintain control of the state Senate, they also re-took control of the state House. Andy Beshear retained his governship in Kentucky, which is pretty impressive for a red state.

The one spot where Dems didn't manage a big win was in Mississippi, where republican Tate Reeves appears to be the winner against Brandon Presley, who did have a family name working for him. It wasn't a blowout though (52% to 47%), so that could still be taken as a positive when considering TFG won the state in 2020 with a 58% - 41% margin.

Living in the DC area, we saw a lot of commercials for the VA races in VA districts near DC. The general messages were:

- Republican: FEAR!! MURDER!! MAYHEM!!
- Democrat: My opponent wants to ban abortion in all cases - even rape.

It appears that voters in VA decided which of the two messages most resonated with them. The Republican party - once the staunch guardian against government intrusion in our personal lives - has completely flipped to the governing ideals in "1984". They want to re-write history, control what our kids can read, and control women's bodies. The electorate are rejecting that mindset for one of personal liberty.

I am hoping this is a groundswell that will wash Republicans out of control in 2024. Let's follow the playbook, and put the republicans' feet to the fire that they created.