Multiparty: A Mirrored America

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Hi everyone, I'm going to be starting an interactive, fictional TL soon centered around an election in 2020. All Presidents, Senators, Representatives, Governors, and other politicians are going to be fictional characters, but I'll be using images of real-life politicians and notable people for stand ins so it's not just text and boring paragraphs (e.g., a character named John Smith from Alabama using Cory Booker's images).

Furthermore, I want to write a TL in which there's a pseudo-multiparty America, based on this post I made:

Democratic-Labor-Solutions Coalition - 227 Seats

Democratic Party - 186 Seats - Nancy Pelosi (CA)

Labor Party - 33 Seats - Keith Ellison (MN)

Solutions for Us! - 8 Seats - Cheri Bustos (IL)

Right Coalition - 205 Seats

Republican Party - 200 Seats - Kevin McCarthy (CA)

Conservative Party - 5 Seats - Frank Lucas (OK)

Unaffiliated - 3 seats

Movement for the People - 2 seats - Carlos Curbelo (FL)

Independent Moderate Party - 1 seat - Dan Lipinski (IL)

I like the idea of a multiparty America because it is such a foreign idea to us, and abandoning at least part of the two-party system we have is very fascinating to me.

I think the most interesting part of this TL is how interactive it will be. I will use straw polls and Google forms to poll the popularity of characters in my TL. If you guys don't like a certain character, that character will have high unfavorables and won't succeed in the TL's elections. Thus, you, the audience, can shape how the story goes.

The forms will be disguised as Gallup polls, or something similar, so you'll be able to respond to characters' personalities, job performances, foreign policy goals, and domestic agenda visions. I am very optimistic that such interactivity, while not new nor my unique idea, will make this a really fun TL.

Thanks!

First proper post coming soon. "Fear and Fire" is still active.

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The Government of the United States

Meet President

Greg Meyer (Republican-ME)

Vice President

Sarah Boeman (Conservative-TN)

Speaker of the House

Terrence Phillips (R-SD)

House Minority Coalition Leader

Joseph Gaines (Democratic-NC)

Senate Majority Coalition Leader

Terri Carter (D-PA)

Senate Minority Coalition Leader

Eric MacCafferty (R-GA)

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The Senate of the United States

Majority Coalition - 52 Seats

Democratic Party - 41 Seats

Labor Party - 11 Seats

Minority Coalition - 48 Seats

Republican Party - 46 Seats

Conservative Party - 2 Seats

Alabama
John Murrie
Jan Stewart
 
Alaska
Hugh Faber
Allison Markley-Sitt

Arizona
Sharon Wisniewski
Carlos Marino

Arkansas
Phil Yates
Jack Bentley

California
Ana Marquez
Tom Miller
 
Colorado
Ben Sizemore
Vincent MacKnight

Connecticut
Fabiano Guerra
Helen Stevensen

Delaware
Carey Albert
Martin Williams

Florida
Xavier Acquaviva Esteves
Geoff Waterly

Georgia
Eric MacCafferty
Craig Ferris

Hawaii
Uma Ando
Philip Shawe

Idaho
Tim Nilsbergen
Fred Volger

Illinois
Dean Roberts
Ashley Benson

Indiana
Stuart Jamieson
Nancy Kartville

Iowa
Harry Goldman
Alexander Luhrman

Kansas
Steve Smith
Dennis Portman

Kentucky
Vic Halleran
Oliver Schaffer

Louisiana
Joe Salter
Kevin Jordan

Maine
Tim Damron
John Sandler

Maryland
Samuel Kerry
Walter Cameron

Massachusetts
Corina Forbes
Pat Woods

Michigan
Scott Phillips
Joey Crouch

Minnesota
Anne Bergen
Derrick Johnson

Mississippi
Arthur Kaminski
Fred Wilson

Missouri
Andy Howard
Jeremy Lougher

Montana
Catherine Werth
Jerry Hawthorne

Nebraska
Bert Gossler
Greg Linder

Nevada
Sarah Ruben
Javi Ferreira

New Hampshire
Jim Waterson
Thomas Singleton

New Jersey
Valina Huesca-Carr
Mary Carter

New Mexico
Fadrique Ortiz
Moshe Wallace

New York
Bill Franken
Mandy McCafferty

North Carolina
Eliza Simons
Terry Cathcart

North Dakota
Rich Kennedy
Mark Douglas

Ohio
Jennifer Lewis-Haffer
Sean Treeten

Oklahoma
Josh Banks
Colleen Jackson

Oregon
Nate Harris
Ben Yates

Pennsylvania
Terri Carter
Jack Lincoln

Rhode Island
Ellen Newton
Marie Young

South Carolina
Allen Birch
Lisa DiRenzi

South Dakota
Wendy Sheen
Alec Borden

Tennessee
Jeffrey Dwyer
Mac Kilmer

Texas
Rick DeAngelo
Nick Wilsen

Utah
Westley Sutters
Albert Zales

Vermont
Cheryl Iselin
Ingrid Martin
 
Virginia
Alice Graham
Tanya Peckers

Washington
Kanya Nguyen
Jordan Frank

West Virginia
Martha Trenton
Drew Jackson

Wisconsin
Ryan Albert
Eddie Calvert

Wyoming
Joe Mott
Aaron Freeman

2 Democrats

1 Democrat 1 Labor

2 Labor

1 Democrat 1 Republican

1 Labor 1 Republican

2 Republicans

1 Conservative 1 Republican

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The Governors of the United States

Republican Party - 22 Seats

Democratic Party - 20 Seats

Conservative Party - 4 Seats

Labor Party - 4 Seats

Chair of the National Association of Governors: Wes Porter (R-NC)

Alabama
Henry Jolly

Alaska
Edward Hill

Arizona
Vinnie Guerra

Arkansas
Sue Capps

California
Jessica Onishi

Colorado
Osmond Stoyer

Connecticut
Jack Cahough

Delaware
Ellis Bremen

Florida
Tara Lieuws

Georgia
Christopher Alvin

Hawaii
Diane Stone

Idaho
Rory Anderson

Illinois
Tony Norton

Indiana
Howey Thurman

Iowa
Donald Fallaghy

Kansas
Jacky McClintock

Kentucky
Bo Hoyer

Louisiana
Will Seward

Maine
John Campbell

Maryland
Camilla Hoff

Massachusetts
Joe Burton

Michigan
Joseph LeClare

Minnesota
Jeff Austin

Mississippi
Eric Arlington

Missouri
Lewis Harlan

Montana
Sybil Ascheman

Nebraska
Cobb Carr

Nevada
Luis Cruz

New Hampshire
Connie Borman

New Jersey
Mario DeBenedetti

New Mexico
Kathryn Cruz

New York
Jill Miller

North Carolina
Wes Porter

North Dakota
Harold Freisberg

Ohio
Tommy MacMorrow-Anselm

Oklahoma
Rhys Sawyer

Oregon
Hal Hart

Pennsylvania
Bill Caranado

Rhode Island
Marty Arden

South Carolina
Tyler Ipswall

South Dakota
David Croft

Tennessee
Jared Hilloe

Texas
Larry Garfield

Utah
Matt Weavers

Vermont
Mina Guillory

Virginia
Jane Vickers

Washington
Samantha Schumer

West Virginia
Calvin Leighst

Wisconsin
Art Jordan

Wyoming
Bill Maxwell

Republican Governor

Democratic Governor

Conservative Governor

Labor Governor

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A Look At The House of Representatives of the United States

Governing Coalition - 223 Seats - Speaker of the House Terrence Phillips (R-SDAL)

Republican Party - 179 Seats - Terrence Phillips (R-SDAL)

Conservative Party - 30 Seats - Claire Howard (C-ID01)

Nationalists and Patriots - 8 Seats - Jerry Hoff (N-AL05)

Libertarian Party - 6 Seats - Geoff Linden (LIB-UT03)

Minority Coalition - 206 Seats - House Minority Leader Joseph Gaines (D-NC12)

Democratic Party - 180 Seats - Joseph Gaines (D-NC12)

Labor Party - 20 Seats - Melina Carlo (LAB-NY16)

Solutions for Us! - 6 Seats - Cheryl Dennison (SU-NJ11)

Non-Aligned Parties - 6 Seats

Independent Greens - 4 Seats - Drew Niels (GSL-VTAL)

Movement for the People - 2 Seats - Craig McPhee (MP-TX19) and Linda Coleman (MP-AKAL)

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Partisan Map of Congressional Districts

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In the News...

July 14, 2018

President Meyer announces support for eased restrictions on for-profit colleges

President Gregory Meyer has announced support today for the H.R. Deregulation of For-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning Bill that aims to deregulate the for-profit college industry. The bill, sponsored by John Davis (Cons.-N.D.), will lax many of the rules and regulations put in place by President Allen Stevens in 2011. President Meyer has stated that "[F]or-profit institutions are not the boogeyman the left makes them out to be. They create a solid educational foundation for countless students in our country, so I believe it is our duty to make sure these institutions can thrive in a capitalist economy just like many other industries."

The President's sentiment was shared by Speaker Terrence Phillips (Rep.-S.D.), who called the move a "...sane and sensical policy decision and one that is long overdue," he said, continuing with "For-profit colleges give the education system in our country, one which is plagued by elitism and exclusivity, much needed new ideas and courses."

The bill is expected to pass the House later this month, and move onto the Senate where it will most likely be defeated by the Democratic-Labor coalition.

July 14, 2018

Carter, Gaines announce opposition to House For-Profit Bill

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Terri Carter (Dem.-PA) and House Minority Coalition Leader Joseph Gaines (Dem.-N.C.) have both announced their opposition to the Deregulation of For-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning Bill, claiming it eases the burden on profit-driven colleges and will make it easier for these institutions to prey upon students and financially insecure people. Carter specifically noted that the 2011 regulations implemented by Fmr. Pres. Stevens were "meant to make sure these profit-driven colleges could not swindle students out of their money nor could they get away with many of the abuses they used to. This bill reverses all of that and lets these faux colleges off the hook." Carter announced that the Democratic-Labor Coalition would block passage of the bill in the Senate. Senate Majority Coalition Whip Daniel Hawes is very likely to be able to gather up all 41 Democratic Senators and all 11 Labor Senators and convince them to vote against the bill once it reaches the Senate floor.

HmCL (House minority Coalition Leader) Gaines echoed similar concerns, calling the bill a "bad idea" and a "slippery slope". He stated that colleges that run on a for-profit basis are much more likely to charge exorbitant fees and tuition prices and have had historically no problem in preying upon poor and working-class people looking to achieve a higher standard of education.

Other opposition members include Labor Party Chairwoman Mary Sapir, who called it a "capitalist's dream bill, one which would further muddy our already expensive, confusing, and sometimes corrupt nationwide education system" and Labor Senator Corina Forbes (Mass.), who called the bill a "travesty".

July 21, 2018

Gay man in Jersey City attacked, makes video pleading for end of homophobia

A gay man was attacked in Jersey City, New Jersey after leaving a nightclub early this morning. He was passing by a bar on Bergen Avenue when a larger group of men cornered him and began insulting and degrading him using homophobic slurs, according to security footage and witness testimony. The insults soon turned to physical actions and the man was assaulted by a broken beer bottle. The group of men left the scene as an ambulance soon arrived.

The man, revealed to be Hector Cruz, filmed and uploaded a video to Twitter begging for an end to homophobia and hate crime. "Pride Month just ended and this still is happening?" He asked, injuries visible on his face and neck. "Fifty of us were killed two years ago and we still have homophobes in the streets wanting to kill us... I could have died last night."

The video has become a viral sensation, with many people online thanking Cruz for his courage in making the video as well as condemning homophobia and hate crimes. It was only last month that many people inside and outside the LGBTQ community commemorated the two year anniversary of the Pulse massacre in Orlando, FL, where shooter Omar Mateen killed 49 people at a gay nightclub and devastated many in the queer community. Pride Month 2018 saw the lowest rate of anti-LGBTQ crimes/acts of hate in the past fifteen years, but for some, Cruz' attack is a reminder that the hate is still alive and well in cities across the U.S.

July 22, 2018

Gov. Lieuws plagued by inclement numbers in Florida Gov. Race, poll shows

Florida's gubernatorial race remains tight this summer, with incumbent Democratic Gov. Tara Lieuws only 2 points ahead of her GOP rival Sen. Geoff Waterly. The poll, released by Quinnipiac, gives Lieuws a lead of 42%, compared to Waterly's 40%, with a large 18% undecided. Lieuws is strongest with her base of young voters, liberals, registered Democrats, and highly educated voters while Waterly is very favored with the elderly and conservatives and holds a very slim lead with moderates. Lieuws is currently underwater in terms of job performance, with 49% of Floridians giving her a negative score, compared to 46% giving a positive rating and 5% being undecided.

Part of Gov. Lieuws poor rating and shaky re-election chances stem from her failed initiative to reform the criminal justice system, which was slammed by conservatives as being radical and slammed by liberals and progressives as doing nothing to stop racist and discriminatory criminal justice policy. It ultimately failed in the Statehouse earlier this year. Furthermore, polls have consistently shown that Florida voters don't see Lieuws as being particularly likable or charismatic, with poll respondents ranking her as 54% uncharismatic versus only 46% charismatic according to an FIU poll.

However, her opponent Waterly is similarly received by voters, with a majority viewing him as stiff (51%) and disingenuous (52%), according to the same FIU poll. These numbers still have time to change as the election develops, but it is no wonder it is such a tight race with very polarizing candidates who both sport negative ratings from their own state residents.

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I can’t take this seriously now that Selina Meyer’s pic is in this

[Cold War Liberal]

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In the News...

July 26, 2018

NJ Gov. Signs Pro-Union Bill into law

Gov. Mario DeBenedetti (LAB-NJ) signed a pro-Union Bill into law today, strengthening several unions in the state of NJ and introducing several new regulations which he claimed "would protect our state's workers from abuse and unfair labor practices." The legislation has been applauded by several national union organizations like the AFL-CIO and National Federation of Nurses.

DeBenedetti, 48, was elected Governor in 2017, being the first Labor governor since the 1970s. However, the New Jersey Democratic Party refused to endorse DeBenedetti and continued to field their own nominee, which is very unusual. However, DeBenedetti won the election with 44% of the vote and has since improved relations between NJ Democrats and NJ Labor.

The signed legislation has broad support in New Jersey, with a recent Gallup poll showing it has the strongest support with union members (92% approve), liberals (90% approve), young voters (87% approve), and urban voters (84% approve). The legislation is least popular with rural residents (47% approve), older voters (43% approve), conservatives (36% approve), and self-ID'd nationalists (30% approve).

July 28, 2018

Several Democrats, Laborites seen as 2020 Presidential contenders

Sen. Bill Franken

The race is already on to see who will become the nominee for the Democratic and Labor parties in the 2020 general election. Both parties, as well as minor parties like the Social Democratic party which has holds no federal offices, hold united primaries and field a single candidate in order not to split the vote in the general election. This has been common practice since 1960, when both parties decided to unite for Presidential elections instead of splitting the vote and handing the election to a right-wing party, as was the case in the 1956, 1952, and 1948 elections. Only once have the two parties not held a united primary since then, when the parties "divorced" over disparate stances on the Vietnam War in 1967. The 1968 election was a Republican victory as both left-wing parties competed for votes while the Republicans, Nationalists, and Conservatives were united under one banner.

Shooting to the top of the list of tentative front-runners are Sen. Bill Franken (Dem.-N.Y.), Sen. Moshe Wallace (Dem.-NM), Gov. Camilla Hoff (Lab.-MD), and Sen. Sean Treeten (Dem.-OH).Other names being floated include Gov. Mario DeBenedetti (Lab.-N.J.), Rep. Carol Harrison (Dem.-PA), Fmr. Gov. Stewart Jamison (Lab.-MI), Fmr. Gov. Amanada Cathcart (Dem.-VA), and Fmr. Sen. Solomon MacGrady-Hough (Dem.-MA).

Sen. Moshe Wallace

The field is looking very crowded right now, but if President Meyer's numbers improve and his re-election looks more likely, it is possible to see the field narrow significantly as many top-tier Dem and Labor contenders sit the 2020 election out and wait for 2024 or later.

Gov. Camilla Hoff

July 31, 2018

45 Killed in Syria, Gas Attack in Afrin

45 people were killed early this morning in the city of Afrin, in northern Syria, by what appears to be a sarin gas attack. No group has claimed responsibility, but many observers suspect it to be the Syrian government. Bashar al-Assad has vehemently denied responsibility for the attack, and has blamed it on Al Nusra and Syrian rebels.

President Meyer has stated that his administration will not accept the death of innocent civilians and renewed his goal to strip chemical weapons from the Syrian government, however came short of advocating air bombings or an intervention. "The situation is very fragile, and any military actions could have disastrous side effects and destabilize the region even further."

Vice President Boeman has advocated for an invasion of Syria in the past, especially when she was Senator of Tennessee during the attack on Ghouta in 2013. Since becoming Vice President, she has moderated her tone and advocated for embargoes and economic isolation of Syria. However, the attack on Afrin has caused her hawkish stance to resurface. "A limited invasion or bombing campaign, of some sort, might send the message to Assad that murder of civilians is never acceptable. Taking out chemical factories could seriously cripple his capabilities."

Sen. Moshe Wallace (Dem.-N.M.) has called the attack "reprehensible and disgusting" but called the prospect of an invasion irresponsible and destabilizing. "An invasion of Syria would inflame the civil war and lead to massive casualties and billions of dollars in damages. It would also harm the relations we have with our neighbors, especially a pseudo-hostile adversary like Russia." Wallace said. "It's 2018, we shouldn't be having proxy wars with Russia."

Another big name Democrat, Sen. Anne Bergen (Dem.-MN) has called a prospective invasion "motivated by oil and gas, as well as a desire to counter Russian interests in the region." She continued "we shouldn't be playing geopolitics and oil games with peoples' lives."

On the flip side, several right-wing politicos advocate for an invasion and see the benefits of such an invasion. Sen. Rich Kennedy (Rep.-S.D.) has stated that "the only way to end these gas attacks is to invade Syria and force Assad into resignation. He's gotta go." Rep. Martina Douglas (Cons.-AL) echoed Kennedy's stance and claimed that "a dual bombing campaign and ground invasion is the only way to stop what these monsters are doing. The United Nations is doing a terrible job at protecting citizens and, as usual, it is up to the United States to do something."

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Gallup Poll for July 31 to August 3