Governors-elect/governors Kasich, Sandoval, Snyder, Walker, Hogan, Lepage, Baker & Rauner show that the GOP is definitely not a 'southern-like political states' only sort of party. The GOP also came very close in CT, VT, NH, RI, and CO, and outperformed expectations in MN.
Same goes for senators-elect Ernst, Tillis, and Gardner, and the GOP's amazing showing in VA, and better than expected showing in NM and IL. Came close in NH as well.
The GOP got 34% of the Hispanic vote nationally - not enough to win the presidency, but a big step up from 2012. They are truly beginning to learn their lessons from 2012 - here's what they've learned:
1. they can't nominate tea partiers in non-deep republican states
2. they can't go around bashing women who get raped
3. they can't make statements about 47% of the population being victims, and
4. ground game/GOTV is important
