Sanity prevails; 2016 Election Timeline

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Point of divergence: A different (and less controversial) style of tenure by Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State happens, and her approvals end up significantly higher in the run up to and during the 2016 Election.

This timeline will go through my take on events and elections in some amount of detail.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Prologue: The 2016 primary



The Dem primary in 2016 was a quick contest, even if it was a bit more competitive than many expected. Clinton won most of the contests, and after March 15, Sanders dropped out and endorsed her. The Republican primary would go on for about 2 more months before Trump would win over a large field of candidates, with Republicans ending up very split on whether to support him in the general.

In February, Antonin Scalia had died, and in March, President Obama had nominated Jane Kelly of Iowa, a choice widely pushed by progressives, to replace him. The Republican US Senate majority refused to hold a vote, or even hearings on the nominee though, and it was widely expected that the nomination would end up filled sometime after a new President was seated.

In the race for Congress, Democrats have been aggressively recruiting strong candidates for both the House and Senate to try to take both chambers back, though it was generally expected that the House would only flip in a wave environment. Some optimistic pundits however thought this could be done, as Democrats hoped to create a trifecta in the 2016 elections.

[Prez_zf]

(Unsure if there is a similar necro rule as on AH.com, so here goes) Is this still active? Looks interesting.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

The election season was very wild. In July, the conventions happened. Donald Trump picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate in the Republican convention while Hillary Clinton picked Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate in the Democratic convention. The debates in September and October involved numerous missteps on the part of Trump. In addition, there were revelations that Trump bragged about assaulting women in a 2005 tape that came out in October.

Clinton led strongly in polls across the whole campaign, and pundits were calling her a strong favorite. Many strong Democratic candidates were running for both the Senate and the House, with the Senate seeming an easier lift overall, but both chambers widely seen as being in play.

[Samof94]

The election season was very wild. In July, the conventions happened. Donald Trump picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate in the Republican convention while Hillary Clinton picked Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate in the Democratic convention. The debates in September and October involved numerous missteps on the part of Trump. In addition, there were revelations that Trump bragged about assaulting women in a 2005 tape that came out in October.

Clinton led strongly in polls across the whole campaign, and pundits were calling her a strong favorite. Many strong Democratic candidates were running for both the Senate and the House, with the Senate seeming an easier lift overall, but both chambers widely seen as being in play.

Does the Stormy stuff come out on Trump's end?

[BigVic]

The House Speaker election if the Dems win 218-220 seats will be interesting. Pelosi will see a challenge