Burnt Orange Report

Who Won? Polarization.

By Byron LaMasters

Both Democrats and Republicans won and consolidated control in areas where they're dominate. In Blue states like New Jersey and New York, Democrats enjoyed victories:

New York City voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure yesterday that would have instituted nonpartisan city elections, voting to forgo changes in a system of selecting municipal officials that has been in place for nearly a century.

It was a stinging defeat for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who had invested millions of his own fortune in a campaign that bombarded voters with fliers and telephone calls in the days leading up to yesterday's vote. It was the most partisan battle in the 22 months since Mr. Bloomberg became mayor, pitting him against nearly every Democratic leader in the city.

[...]

In New Jersey, Democrats consolidated control of the New Jersey Legislature.

On Long Island, voters elected the first Democratic county executive in Suffolk County since the 1980's.

Voters in the region also consolidated Democratic control of the New Jersey Legislature, elected the first Democratic county executive in Suffolk since the 1980's and elected mayors in Yonkers and Bridgeport, Conn.

In New York City, the issue of nonpartisan elections was the centerpiece of the election. The vote ended a contentious campaign that pitted Mr. Bloomberg and his money against the organizational get-out-the-vote muscle of the Democrats and the city's labor unions, who strongly opposed the proposal.

[...]

Democratic leaders were jubilant. Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell Jr., the state Democratic Party leader, said the result "proves that issues are more important than money. It proves you can't buy an election."

The State Senate minority Leader, David A. Paterson, speaking for the Democrats who hope to win back City Hall in 2005, said: "This was not a referendum. It was a recall."

Likewise, Democratic Mayor John Street easily won re-election in Philadephia:

Mayor Street overwhelmed Republican challenger Sam Katz today, easily winning reelection despite a contentious rematch and the discovery of an FBI bug in the mayor's office.

Galvanized by the federal investigation, Philadelphia Democrats rallied around their Democratic mayor, giving him the biggest victory of his quarter-century career in politics.

Late returns, with 95 percent of returns counted, showed Street winning by a roughly 3-2 margin. John R. Staggs, the Socialist Workers Party candidate, received less than 1 percent of the vote.

As I said earlier today, this was the most important victory for Democrats today. Having a Democratic mayor in Philadelphia will help the Democratic turnout next year and help our nominee carry Pennsylvania.

On the other hand, Republicans made gains in Red States. They took the governors race in Kentucky and will do so in Mississippi.

I'm dissappointed about this, but it we've lost Mississippi to a racially insensitive Republican, Haley Barbour. What a shame. What happened to the "new south"? Ugh. It makes no difference in the presidential election next year, but its a shame to lose another southern Democratic governor.

Posted by Byron LaMasters at November 5, 2003 12:31 AM | TrackBack