Well-behaved women... : a 2020 TL

[TheLeftwardTide]

This TL is amazing, with Sanders in the lead in KY/WV. Though it sucks how Foster Campbell didn't make it into the runoff; in an environment where conservatives weren't so energized and liberals weren't so (politically) depressed, he probably would've done better in the run-off.

[The Govanah Jake]

This is how it should of been.

[MT Treasurer]

Looking forward to Stefany's story!

[Kyle Rittenhouse is a Political Prisoner]

Fun, albeit wholly unrealistic.

[_]

Fun, albeit wholly unrealistic.

This, no way Sanders could be winning KY and WV, he'd have made them closer though.

[Meatball Ron]

Love that Donna Edwards won the MD Senate seat in this TL!

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Love that Donna Edwards won the MD Senate seat in this TL!

[TheLeftwardTide]

Love that Donna Edwards won the MD Senate seat in this TL!

[Kamala]

Tammy
November 8th, 2016

Tammy Duckworth was ecstatic. She was going to coast to victory against Mark Kirk and win Obama's former Senate seat. And it was all so easy, wasn't it?

Kirk disavowed Trump early in the campaign... but obviously also states he isn't voting for Sanders. Then he says he'll vote for Johnson/Weld... but when Gary completely flunks an interview, Kirk goes back on his word and says he won't vote for the Libertarian ticket. Finally, he announces he will vote for Evan McMullin and Spencer Cox. All fine and good... except the ticket doesn't have ballot access in Illinois.

And then, of course, Kirk's gaffes during the debates... C'mon, Mark. You're better than this.

But even if Kirk ran a flawless campaign, he'd have been the underdog. President Obama was still wildly popular in the state, Tammy was a decorated veteran, and she ran an energetic campaign with stops in every single Illinois county.

Heading into election day, the next Senator from the Great State of Illinois decided to revise her victory speech one more time.

FIRST SENATE PICK UP OF THE NIGHT: DUCKWORTH BEATS KIRK
Tammy Duckworth - 62.3%
Sen. Mark Kirk - 36.9%

CNN then switched to the Presidential results.

Huh... Bernie's got this in the bag, right? There's no way he's not getting 270 - the question's how big of a blowout the election is gonna be.

Current Presidential Leads

Sanders/Schweitzer - 151 Called, 154 Leading
Trump/Pence - 155 Called, 85 Leading

I'm sure it's just a temporary blip. Those states will turn back [nonatlas] blue anytime now.

[Kamala]

Catherine
November 8th, 2016

At a smoke-filled casino room in Las Vegas, Senate Minority leader Harry Reid sat around a table. Across from him was the woman looking to take his seat in Senate, Catherine Cortez Masto. As Harry was a Mormon, he did not drink - so Catherine got herself two drinks to celebrate or to forget the watch party.

Sanders was expected to win the state against Trump, and Catherine thought she'd be carried over the finish line by his victory. Of course, that doesn't mean she slept through her campaign.

Her opponent, Joe Heck, was quite formidable. Moderate-sounding, likable, from a swing area of the state and a republican from Clark County. Yet he had the albatross of Trump around his neck. He disavowed Trump at some point during the campaign, yet still made joint appearances with him in Las Vegas and Reno. Despite all fundamentals pointing to her winning, Catherine was spooked by the latest polls. They weren't as strong as they should be.

Catherine and Harry and their aides watched nervously. Catherine was leading in Washoe County, a good sign, for now. But so was Trump. In fact, in past half hour, nearly all swing states, except for Pennsylvania, which had been called for Bernie, were now showing leads, albeit very narrow, for Trump.

Current Presidential Leads

Sanders/Schweitzer - 226 Called, 7 Leading
Trump/Pence - 170 Called, 128 Leading

However, just five minutes later, a good sign appeared.

I'm the next goddamn Senator.

Other Called Senate Races

Arizona
Sen. John McCain - 52.2%
Ann Kirkpatrick - 42.2%
Gary Swing - 5.2%

Idaho
Sen. Mike Crapo - 60.4%
Jerry Sturgill - 27.7%
Ray Wirtz - 11.9%

New York
Sen. Chuck Schumer - 77.3%
Wendy Long - 19.4%

Chuck Schumer's 6,743,756 votes is the record for any vote-getter in the state of New York.

North Dakota
Sen. John Hoeven - 75.3%
Elliot Glassheim - 20.3%

South Dakota
Sen. John Thune - 59.5%
Jay Williams - 27.1%
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (Write-In) - 13.4%

Utah
Sen. Mike Lee - 40.6%
Jim Bennett - 40.4% (United Utah Party)
Misty Snow - 18.7%
[Bennett has not yet filed for a recount]

Washington
Sen. Patty Murray - 61.3%
Chris Vance - 37.6%

[_]

Kamala, I think the UUP wasn't formed yet.

[Kamala]

Kamala, I think the UUP wasn't formed yet.

In this TL, it has.

[TheLeftwardTide]

This TL is amazing, with Sanders in the lead in KY/WV. Though it sucks how Foster Campbell didn't make it into the runoff; in an environment where conservatives weren't so energized and liberals weren't so (politically) depressed, he probably would've done better in the run-off.

I got baited, didn't I. Well played, Kamala. I imagine this playing out like a Greek tragedy for Berniecrats...or something like that. Still very well-written and well-developed, though.

[GlobeSoc]

Uhh... How does Bernie get that massive counting bias?

I get that early vote is a thing but...

[Thunderbird is the word]

This is how it should of been.

#Berniewouldhavewon

[Kamala]

Kamala
November 9th, 2016

The clock struck midnight, but election night was far from over. Eight states were still uncalled, but the Democrats had a lead - albeit a very precarious one.

Yet despite the anxiety in the swing states, Democrats were certain of one thing: the Senate was also in play.

Senate

The Democrats picked up three seats:
Illinois,

Pennsylvania
Katie McGinty - 50.3%
Sen. Pat Toomey - 49.5%

New Hampshire
Maggie Hassan - 50.0%
Sen. Kelly Ayotte - 49.8%

and retained their vulnerable seats:

Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet - 52.3%
Darryl Glenn - 44.3%

Nevada
Catherine Cortez Masto - 48.9%
Joe Heck - 43.5%

However, Republicans held many of their supposedly vulnerable seats:

Ohio
Sen. Rob Portman - 54.3%
P.G. Sittenfeld - 44.7%

North Carolina
Sen. Richard Burr - 49.7%
Deborah Ross - 47.6%

Missouri
Sen. Roy Blunt - 48.2%
Jason Kander - 47.4%

Kentucky
Sen. Rand Paul - 50.1%
Jim Gray - 45.2%

Florida
Sen. Marco Rubio - 52.0%
Patrick Murphy - 46.2%

Iowa
Sen. Chuck Grassley - 58.4%
Patty Judge - 40.3%

Alaska
Sen. Lisa Murkowski - 40.3%
Margaret Stock - 36.4%
Joe Miller - 15.9%
Ray Metcalfe - 7.4%

Louisiana was going to a runoff. And Wisconsin was still uncalled, with Senator Johnson leading a tiny fraction of a margin right now, despite Sanders having won the state.

Sen. Johnson - 49.8325%
Russ Feingold - 49.7989%

It is most likely that Wisconsin will go to a recount, along with Utah. Kelly Ayotte, in New Hampshire, has conceded and congratulated Governor and Senator-elect Maggie Hassan.  Currently, the Senate balance is 50 Democrats and Independents and 48 Republicans, with an expected additional Republican in Louisiana, making the real margin 50-49, with only Wisconsin outstanding. Additionally, if Bennett actually wins after a recount in Utah, the entire balance of the Senate may be in flux, as it is uncertain with which party Bennett will caucus.

Kamala Harris also won her Senate election, which was a surprise to no one. She defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez by a margin of 67-33, sweeping every county but Madera. And it was a good victory, as she became the first black woman in the Senate since Carol Mosley Braun and the first Indian-American Senator in history.

But despite the flowing champagne and the balloons, Kamala held her breath. The presidential election was coming down to the wire, a far removed picture from the Bernie landslide of a month ago.

Sanders/Schweitzer - 247 Called, 48 Leading
Trump/Pence - 214 Called, 29 Leading

A flash appeared on the TV in the viewing party: KEY RACE ALERT

C'mon, Bernie, I know you can do this!

Holy hell. Could he pull it off? I don't believe it. Sanders is still leading in the other races. Even if we give Trump New Hampshire, Kentucky, Montana, and West Virginia, Bernie still wins. And he will. 




I hope.

[Burke Bro]

This is so intense. I have a feeling Bernie carries CO & VA, but I'm unsure about the rest.

Also, Comey opening the investigation into Jane Sanders echoes 2016.

[Kamala]

Natalie
November 9th, 2016

Natalie Tennant was having a decent night. In fact, nearly all the Democrats in West Virginia were celebrating. Despite her embarrassing loss to Shelley Moore Capito just two years ago, in which she received the lowest ever percentage for Democrat in a West Virginia Senate election, Natalie managed to defeat Mac Warner and retain her seat as Secretary of State of West Virginia, winning by a margin of 40,000 votes, a solid 5%. 

Other West Virginia Democrats were also successful - Jim Justice defeated Bill Cole by a margin of 10% to become Governor, and Walt Helmick held his seat as AgCom by defeating Kent Leonhardt. John Perdue, longtime Treasurer, held his seat as well. One of the more stunning successes was former Senator Carte Goodwin, who defeated incumbent Attorney General Patrick Morrisey by 3%. And in the history books, Mary Ann Claytor defeated J.B. McCluskey to become State Auditor and the first African-American statewide officeholder in West Virginia history.

This total sweep of row offices was undoubtedly helped by Sanders' strong performance in the state, a total reversal of the gains Republicans made in the state in the 21st century. Even in the State House and Senate, Democrats made impressive gains, mobilized by Sanders' economic populism. The Democrats found a new tune with Sanders at the top of the ticket, a tune which had struck a chord with West Virginians. In the State House, Democrats gained 11 seats, cutting the Republicans' majority down to just 53 seats to the Democrats' 47. In the Senate, Democrats gained 4 seats, leading to them taking back control of the chamber with 20 Democrats to the Republicans' 14 seats.

Coal Country is back to where it belongs.

An aide had just informed Natalie that a dump of votes had come in from Kanawha County.

We'll see if this finally allows me to make the call...

And it did. For the first time since Bill Clinton in 1996, West Virginia voted for a Democratic President.

Sanders/Schweitzer - 252 Called, 8 Leading
Trump/Pence - 243 Called, 35 Leading

[NEW JERSEY FOR MENENDEZ]

What happened with West Virginia? I think its truly a lost cause for the Democrats unless its a southern and/or Blue Dog or one of their own (Manchin)

[Trans Rights Are Human Rights]

What happened with West Virginia? I think its truly a lost cause for the Democrats unless its a southern and/or Blue Dog or one of their own (Manchin)

Pence is revealed to be IceSpear.

[libertpaulian]

If VA is leaning Republican this late into the night, surely CO and NV are, no?

[Kamala]

If VA is leaning Republican this late into the night, surely CO and NV are, no?

Oops, you're right. I'll change it.

[Kamala]

Hillary
November 9th, 2016

Hillary woke up at 3:53 AM, restless and unable to sleep. She had fallen asleep not knowing who would be president.

And how could she even bear to watch the results come in?

She had the nomination and the presidency swiped from under her. A little part of her hoped that Trump would beat Sanders, just to prove that she was the right choice. Of course, she tried to help Sanders during the campaign, to make sure that Obama's legacy was protected and that millions of minorities weren't endangered.

But I was spurned and rejected by Bernie. He wanted nothing to do with me. I have done so much for the party, all for nought.

But as she turned on the television, she realized the election was yet to be concluded. Even the senate was in question - the margin between Johnson and Feingold was too close, less than 100 votes, and Jim Bennett in Utah had called for a recount.

She, however, did awake at the right moment. Channels were ready to make a call for many of the states that were left.

In succession, Martha Raddatz announced....

Colorado's nine electoral votes go to.... Donald Trump...

That's 252-252 Sanders-Trump... Tied. Christ.

Nevada's six electoral votes go to.... Bernie Sanders...

258-252. Can't believe I'm thinking this. I hope Bernie pulls it off...

Virginia's thirteen electoral votes go to.... Donald Trump...

Damn. 265-258. I guess Fairfax was friendlier to Trump than I thought. I think Huma told me that Loudoun voted for Donald. Somehow.

If Trump wins Kentucky... It's over...

Montana's three electoral votes go to..... Bernie Sanders...

265-261. Jesus. Who knew an old Jew would be popular in Montana. I guess picking Brian was a good choice.

Kentucky's eight electoral votes go to .... Bernie Sanders...

269-265. Lord knows how Bernie turned Kentucky.

New Hampshire's four electoral votes go to .... Donald Trump...

269-269.

269-269? A tie?

"Bill, get up! Get in here!"

Bernie Sanders/Brian Schweitzer - 269 EVs, 50.3%
Donald Trump/Mike Pence - 269 EVs, 46.9%

[BuckeyeNut]

Pfffft. Love it.

[Trans Rights Are Human Rights]

Oh, God.