In These Times — The Election of 2032

[MAINEiac4434]

November 4, 2028
11:34 PM
Little Rock, Arkansas

"And at this time, Vice President Baldwin has 264 electoral votes and a hefty popular vote lead. She needs just one of the outstanding states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia and Florida to win the presidency. But Tom Cotton is currently lead in all of them by narrow margins...this election is too close to call, of course. All of these outstanding states, save for Alaska and Wisconsin, went for President Kennedy in both 2020 and 2024, and she was thought to be favored in her home state of Wisconsin, but tonight it appears the ball is rolling towards the Cotton camp. There are some very shocked faces in Milwaukee tonight -- and they will get even more shocked. We can call Wisconsin for Senator Cotton. Senator Cotton now has 171..."

Tom Cotton shut the TV off. He was alone in this Little Rock hotel room, that felt more like a prison. Occasionally one of his aides would come in to give him an update. An hour ago he felt resigned to defeat, just like that asshole Ted Cruz four years ago. But he was up in the new "blue wall" state of Arizona. He was leading in Pennsylvania and Georgia. He was leading in Wisconsin of all places. He thought back to 2016, how Trump was able to pull off the miracle. To draw an inside straight. He knew that there was no margin for error; just one of these states going to Tammy would end the night. But he already flipped so many states...West Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa, Texas, now Wisconsin...these were states that were supposed to lean Democrat since Kennedy won them. And Tammy was supposed to be the George Bush to Joe's Ronald Reagan. Maybe Tom was more the George W. Bush to Tammy's Al Gore...or the Trump to Tammy's Hillary.

Tom texted one of his advisors. Less than a minute later he got a response.

"It could happen. It's probably 50-50 right now."

Tom flicked the TV back on.

""--HE RACE! CALL THE RACE! CALL THE RACE!" Chanted Baldwin supporters. A feeling of giddiness spread throughout his body. Tom remembered Roy Moore's supporters chanting that to CNN on that fateful December night, the night that began the blue wave that didn't really end until the 2026 midterms -- and even then, only just.

Anderson Cooper appeared on the screen, now. How does he still look so fucking good? Tom briefly thought, before suppressing those feelings like always.

"And we have another major projection, Arizona will go to Senator Cotton." Cooper said. Oh-ho-ho! Thought Tom. So much for "solid blue" Arizona. Two Dem senators, a Dem governor, and supposedly a safe Dem Presidential state after Kennedy won it by high single digits in 2020 and then double digits in 2024. His phone vibrated. It was the same aide texting him.

"60-40 odds now. Baldwins collapsing at final buzzer. Mostly rural out in PA OH FL GA. Not enough of Philly Pitt Cleve Miami & Atl for her to take the lead. Anything could happen but balls in ur court now and ur favored"

Tom went to the minifridge and pulled out some cake. He knew it was only 60-40 odds. But he allowed himself a taste.

[America Needs R'hllor]

How does he still look so fucking good? Tom briefly thought, before suppressing those feelings like always.

Oh boy oh my

[Cold War Liberal]

How does he still look so fucking good? Tom briefly thought, before suppressing those feelings like always.

Oh boy oh my

As Aristophanes is quoted to have said in Plato's Symposium, "[gay men are] the only men who end up in government."

(Wonder what that means for Mike Pence...)

[_]

How does he still look so fucking good? Tom briefly thought, before suppressing those feelings like always.

Oh boy oh my

Ah this is perfection.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

How does he still look so fucking good? Tom briefly thought, before suppressing those feelings like always.

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[MAINEiac4434]

The new face of the Republican Party?
Young, queer and willing to stand up to ideologues on both sides, Governor Joanna Campbell leads the way for a new generation of Republicans

Joanna Campbell doesn't look like a politician, let alone Governor of one of the largest states in the union. If you walked past her near the Capitol, sipping a latte and looking at her phone, you'd probably assume she was a med student at Southern Illinois. She rarely has an entourage, eschews the tight security presence of her predecessors, and dresses casually.

"I guess I'm just a really down-to-earth person," she smiles as we sit in a Starbucks. "A rarity in Illinois politics."

The 29-year-old is the youngest Governor in the United States. As a matter of fact, she's one of the youngest Governors ever. She took office at 26 -- seven years younger than Bill Clinton when he took the oath of office in Arkansas, and two years older than Stevens T. Mason, the “Boy Governor” who became Governor of Michigan at 24 in 1830.

"I guess I've always been a trailblazer," she says, though she's selling herself short. Joanna Campbell is also the first openly trans Governor of any US State, and one of the few openly trans politicians in the world.

Her improbable rise from local activist to Governor have led some to speculate that she may just find herself in the Oval Office some day. She snorts in amusement at the idea.

"I've got a few years before I'm even eligible," she says. But she's not staying away from Presidential politics, though. She's one of Tom Cotton's harshest critics, particularly on LGBTQ rights issues. She has publicly stated that she will not support the President in his reelection campaign in 2032. That's led some Illinois Republicans to start looking for alternatives.

"I've never backed down from a fight. Those Republicans who want me off the ticket in 2030 didn't want me on it in the 2026. I won because two more conservative candidates split the vote. But I think I've more than earned my keep here. I lowered taxes and improved the economy -- Governor Pritzker and Governor Stratton didn't do anything about the recession of 2019. That's not an indictment on Democrats, that's an indictment on the people they were working for -- large corporations, not Illinoisans."

Some of Cotton's closest allies are looking to recruit Naomi Stevenson, an East St. Louis-based businesswoman, to challenge Campbell. Stevenson and Campbell had an extremely public spat when the Governor pulled a state contract from Stevenson's company after it was revealed Stevenson had donated to an anti-LGBTQ pressure group every year since 2005. If Stevenson were to run for Governor, it would be her first time as a candidate.

Despite her public feuds with members of her own party, she saves her most biting criticisms to "Machine Democrats." Illinois has a long history of political machines backing politicians and entrenching them. She's criticized longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. "The Madigans are why I -- a young queer woman -- am a Republican." Political strategist Carl Traeger says that her criticism of Madigan and the Illinois Democratic establishment is what won her the race.

"Illinois is a liberal state, especially on social issues. But it doesn't like the Madigans, it doesn't like the establishment. Then here comes this young woman, a Republican but liberal on social issues, and she's so different from what everyone else has been offering Illinoisans for so long. She was so different, she won over traditionally conservative voters and progressives who'd never before voted for a Republican, and probably won't ever again."

Her independence has won her praise on both sides of the aisle; she's close friends with Democratic Maine Governor and possible Presidential candidate Blake Walsh. In an interview, Walsh said that Campbell "is one of [her] favorite people in politics."

"Jo Campbell out in Illinois. We don't agree on much, but she's extremely smart, extremely passionate and cares deeply about her state and the people. I'm proud to call her a friend."

Walsh, who chairs the National Governors Association, was seen with her husband Sen. Benjamin Johnston eating dinner with Campbell and her partner Lucy Martinez in one of Augusta's fanciest restaurants prior to the NGA meeting in Augusta -- neither Walsh nor Johnston met any other Governors privately during the NGA meeting in Augusta.

[_]

Oh I wonder who this could be.

Amazing update.

[MAINEiac4434]

Oh I wonder who this could be.

Amazing update.

^_^

[Sestak]

The new face of the Republican Party?
Young, queer and willing to stand up to ideologues on both sides, Governor Joanna Campbell leads the way for a new generation of Republicans

Joanna Campbell doesn't look like a politician, let alone Governor of one of the largest states in the union. If you walked past her near the Capitol, sipping a latte and looking at her phone, you'd probably assume she was a med student at Southern Illinois. She rarely has an entourage, eschews the tight security presence of her predecessors, and dresses casually.

"I guess I'm just a really down-to-earth person," she smiles as we sit in a Starbucks. "A rarity in Illinois politics."

The 26-year-old is the youngest Governor in the United States. As a matter of fact, she's one of the youngest Governors ever. She took office at 26 -- seven years younger than Bill Clinton when he took the oath of office in Arkansas, and two years older than Stevens T. Mason, the 23-year-old who became Governor of Michigan at 24 in 1830.

"I guess I've always been a trailblazer," she says, though she's selling herself short. Joanna Campbell is also the first openly trans Governor of any US State, and one of the few openly trans politicians in the world.

Her improbably rise from local activist to Governor have led some to speculate that she may just find herself in the Oval Office some day. She snorts in amusement at the idea.

"I've got a few years before I'm even eligible," she says. But she's not staying away from Presidential politics, though. She's one of Tom Cotton's harshest critics, particularly on LGBTQ rights issues. She has publicly stated that she will not support the President in his reelection campaign in 2032. That's led some Illinois Republicans to start looking for alternatives.

"I've never backed down from a fight. Those Republicans who want me off the ticket in 2030 didn't want me on it in the 2026. I won because two more conservative candidates split the vote. But I think I've more than earned my keep here. I lowered taxes and improved the economy -- Governor Pritzker and Governor Stratton didn't do anything about the recession of 2019. That's not an indictment on Democrats, that's an indictment on the people they were working for -- large corporations, not Illinoisans."

Some of Cotton's closest allies are looking to recruit Naomi Stevenson, an East St. Louis-based businesswoman, to challenge Campbell. Stevenson and Campbell had an extremely public spat when the Governor pulled a state contract from Stevenson's company after it was revealed Stevenson had donated to an anti-LGBTQ pressure group every year since 2005. If Stevenson were to run for Governor, it would be her first time as a candidate.

Despite her public feuds with members of her own party, she saves her most biting criticisms to "Machine Democrats." Illinois has a long history of political machines backing politicians and entrenching them. She's criticized longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. "The Madigans are why I -- a young queer woman -- am a Republican." Political strategist Carl Traeger says that her criticism of Madigan and the Illinois Democratic establishment is what won her the race.

"Illinois is a liberal state, especially on social issues. But it doesn't like the Madigans, it doesn't like the establishment. Then here comes this young woman, a Republican but liberal on social issues, and she's so different from what everyone else has been offering Illinoisans for so long. She was so different, she won over traditionally conservative voters and progressives who'd never before voted for a Republican, and probably won't ever again."

Her independence has won her praise on both sides of the aisle; she's close friends with Democratic Maine Governor and possible Presidential candidate Blake Walsh. In an interview, Walsh said that Campbell "is one of [her] favorite people in politics."

"Jo Campbell out in Illinois. We don't agree on much, but she's extremely smart, extremely passionate and cares deeply about her state and the people. I'm proud to call her a friend."

Walsh, who chairs the National Governors Association, was seen with her husband Sen. Benjamin Johnston eating dinner with Campbell and her partner Lucy Martinez in one of Augusta's fanciest restaurants prior to the NGA meeting in Augusta -- neither Walsh nor Johnston met any other Governors privately during the NGA meeting in Augusta.

Also I'm pretty sure Joanna would be like 29 by 2029, and she (he?) would be eligible to run in 2036. (And so would I... Dream ticket?)

[wxtransit]

:thinking:

We're going to have to make a TL someday with only Atlas people in it.

And you can have me as the next face of the Constitution Party! (No, please don't )

[OBD]

The new face of the Republican Party?
Young, queer and willing to stand up to ideologues on both sides, Governor Joanna Campbell leads the way for a new generation of Republicans

Joanna Campbell doesn't look like a politician, let alone Governor of one of the largest states in the union. If you walked past her near the Capitol, sipping a latte and looking at her phone, you'd probably assume she was a med student at Southern Illinois. She rarely has an entourage, eschews the tight security presence of her predecessors, and dresses casually.

"I guess I'm just a really down-to-earth person," she smiles as we sit in a Starbucks. "A rarity in Illinois politics."

The 26-year-old is the youngest Governor in the United States. As a matter of fact, she's one of the youngest Governors ever. She took office at 26 -- seven years younger than Bill Clinton when he took the oath of office in Arkansas, and two years older than Stevens T. Mason, the 23-year-old who became Governor of Michigan at 24 in 1830.

"I guess I've always been a trailblazer," she says, though she's selling herself short. Joanna Campbell is also the first openly trans Governor of any US State, and one of the few openly trans politicians in the world.

Her improbably rise from local activist to Governor have led some to speculate that she may just find herself in the Oval Office some day. She snorts in amusement at the idea.

"I've got a few years before I'm even eligible," she says. But she's not staying away from Presidential politics, though. She's one of Tom Cotton's harshest critics, particularly on LGBTQ rights issues. She has publicly stated that she will not support the President in his reelection campaign in 2032. That's led some Illinois Republicans to start looking for alternatives.

"I've never backed down from a fight. Those Republicans who want me off the ticket in 2030 didn't want me on it in the 2026. I won because two more conservative candidates split the vote. But I think I've more than earned my keep here. I lowered taxes and improved the economy -- Governor Pritzker and Governor Stratton didn't do anything about the recession of 2019. That's not an indictment on Democrats, that's an indictment on the people they were working for -- large corporations, not Illinoisans."

Some of Cotton's closest allies are looking to recruit Naomi Stevenson, an East St. Louis-based businesswoman, to challenge Campbell. Stevenson and Campbell had an extremely public spat when the Governor pulled a state contract from Stevenson's company after it was revealed Stevenson had donated to an anti-LGBTQ pressure group every year since 2005. If Stevenson were to run for Governor, it would be her first time as a candidate.

Despite her public feuds with members of her own party, she saves her most biting criticisms to "Machine Democrats." Illinois has a long history of political machines backing politicians and entrenching them. She's criticized longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. "The Madigans are why I -- a young queer woman -- am a Republican." Political strategist Carl Traeger says that her criticism of Madigan and the Illinois Democratic establishment is what won her the race.

"Illinois is a liberal state, especially on social issues. But it doesn't like the Madigans, it doesn't like the establishment. Then here comes this young woman, a Republican but liberal on social issues, and she's so different from what everyone else has been offering Illinoisans for so long. She was so different, she won over traditionally conservative voters and progressives who'd never before voted for a Republican, and probably won't ever again."

Her independence has won her praise on both sides of the aisle; she's close friends with Democratic Maine Governor and possible Presidential candidate Blake Walsh. In an interview, Walsh said that Campbell "is one of [her] favorite people in politics."

"Jo Campbell out in Illinois. We don't agree on much, but she's extremely smart, extremely passionate and cares deeply about her state and the people. I'm proud to call her a friend."

Walsh, who chairs the National Governors Association, was seen with her husband Sen. Benjamin Johnston eating dinner with Campbell and her partner Lucy Martinez in one of Augusta's fanciest restaurants prior to the NGA meeting in Augusta -- neither Walsh nor Johnston met any other Governors privately during the NGA meeting in Augusta.

Also I'm pretty sure Joanna would be like 29 by 2029, and she (he?) would be eligible to run in 2036. (And so would I... Dream ticket?)

One of the few Republicans I would enthusiastically vote for.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

:thinking:

We're going to have to make a TL someday with only Atlas people in it.

And you can have me as the next face of the Constitution Party! (No, please don't )

⠀⠰⡿⠿⠛⠛⠻⠿⣷
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⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄
⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡁
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Maybe after my Socialist America TL is done...

COMING SOON...

[WestVegeta]

The new face of the Republican Party?
Young, queer and willing to stand up to ideologues on both sides, Governor Joanna Campbell leads the way for a new generation of Republicans

Joanna Campbell doesn't look like a politician, let alone Governor of one of the largest states in the union. If you walked past her near the Capitol, sipping a latte and looking at her phone, you'd probably assume she was a med student at Southern Illinois. She rarely has an entourage, eschews the tight security presence of her predecessors, and dresses casually.

"I guess I'm just a really down-to-earth person," she smiles as we sit in a Starbucks. "A rarity in Illinois politics."

The 26-year-old is the youngest Governor in the United States. As a matter of fact, she's one of the youngest Governors ever. She took office at 26 -- seven years younger than Bill Clinton when he took the oath of office in Arkansas, and two years older than Stevens T. Mason, the 23-year-old who became Governor of Michigan at 24 in 1830.

"I guess I've always been a trailblazer," she says, though she's selling herself short. Joanna Campbell is also the first openly trans Governor of any US State, and one of the few openly trans politicians in the world.

Her improbably rise from local activist to Governor have led some to speculate that she may just find herself in the Oval Office some day. She snorts in amusement at the idea.

"I've got a few years before I'm even eligible," she says. But she's not staying away from Presidential politics, though. She's one of Tom Cotton's harshest critics, particularly on LGBTQ rights issues. She has publicly stated that she will not support the President in his reelection campaign in 2032. That's led some Illinois Republicans to start looking for alternatives.

"I've never backed down from a fight. Those Republicans who want me off the ticket in 2030 didn't want me on it in the 2026. I won because two more conservative candidates split the vote. But I think I've more than earned my keep here. I lowered taxes and improved the economy -- Governor Pritzker and Governor Stratton didn't do anything about the recession of 2019. That's not an indictment on Democrats, that's an indictment on the people they were working for -- large corporations, not Illinoisans."

Some of Cotton's closest allies are looking to recruit Naomi Stevenson, an East St. Louis-based businesswoman, to challenge Campbell. Stevenson and Campbell had an extremely public spat when the Governor pulled a state contract from Stevenson's company after it was revealed Stevenson had donated to an anti-LGBTQ pressure group every year since 2005. If Stevenson were to run for Governor, it would be her first time as a candidate.

Despite her public feuds with members of her own party, she saves her most biting criticisms to "Machine Democrats." Illinois has a long history of political machines backing politicians and entrenching them. She's criticized longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. "The Madigans are why I -- a young queer woman -- am a Republican." Political strategist Carl Traeger says that her criticism of Madigan and the Illinois Democratic establishment is what won her the race.

"Illinois is a liberal state, especially on social issues. But it doesn't like the Madigans, it doesn't like the establishment. Then here comes this young woman, a Republican but liberal on social issues, and she's so different from what everyone else has been offering Illinoisans for so long. She was so different, she won over traditionally conservative voters and progressives who'd never before voted for a Republican, and probably won't ever again."

Her independence has won her praise on both sides of the aisle; she's close friends with Democratic Maine Governor and possible Presidential candidate Blake Walsh. In an interview, Walsh said that Campbell "is one of [her] favorite people in politics."

"Jo Campbell out in Illinois. We don't agree on much, but she's extremely smart, extremely passionate and cares deeply about her state and the people. I'm proud to call her a friend."

Walsh, who chairs the National Governors Association, was seen with her husband Sen. Benjamin Johnston eating dinner with Campbell and her partner Lucy Martinez in one of Augusta's fanciest restaurants prior to the NGA meeting in Augusta -- neither Walsh nor Johnston met any other Governors privately during the NGA meeting in Augusta.

Also I'm pretty sure Joanna would be like 29 by 2029, and she (he?) would be eligible to run in 2036. (And so would I... Dream ticket?)

Would you look at that, I'd also be eligible by 2036, if only by a few months... Hey, Maineiac, any idea who West Virginia's senators are?

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Took her long enough.
Now I'm starting to wonder who plays me ITTL...

[MAINEiac4434]

If you want to be involved, send me a message with a name, position and picture for use in the series and I’ll consider it.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Who is “she”?

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Who is “she”?

"She" is... "she".

(Also, I sent an application)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Who is “she”?

"She" is... "she".

(Also, I sent an application)

No need to be opaque.

[MAINEiac4434]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

NM’s a woman!?

[OBD]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

NM’s a woman!?

And trans!?

[Sestak]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

NM’s a woman!?

And trans!?

He's neither...


Yet.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Love this TL!!!!!!

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

NM’s a woman!?

And trans!?

He's neither...


Yet.

One of us, one of us...

[OBD]

Who is “she”?

Not Madigan, who was the first person I contacted for this

NM’s a woman!?

And trans!?

He's neither...


Yet.

One of us, one of us...

I'm not against LGBTQ+ rights or anything, but plz no.