New Democrats

[Colin]

Should I continue?

Sure go ahead. I'm interested.

[True Democrat]

In the midterm elections, infighting between the Republicans and Democrats has continued, leading to extremely small gains for both parties (though the Democrats lose seats in the House), though the coalition is able to take back the Senate:

House:
American Freedom: 258 (-7)
Republican: 91 (+9)
Democrat: 85 (-3)
Indpendent: 1 (+1) (caucuses with AF)

With caucusing:
American Freedom: 259 (-6)
Republican-Democrat: 176 (+6)

Senate:
American Freedom: 47 (-4)
Democrat: 32 (+3)
Republican: 21 (+1)

With caucusing:

Republican-Democrat: 53 (+4)
American Freedom: 47 (-4)

Here also are how the governorships stand (where the American Freedom Party has found it harder to crack traditional party support):
Republican: 23
American Freedom: 16
Democrat: 11

Also notable is that the 28th amendment has been passed by enough state legislatures for ratification to occurs.  This amendment allows citizens not born in the United States to run for President and lowers the minimum age of a Senator and President (and VP) to 25.  All federally elected offices now have the minimum age of 25.

[True Democrat]

Although many have called for a unity candidate in 2016 for the Democrats and Repubicans, the two party committees have refused.  They seem to still be caught up on old political divisions and cannot grasp the ramifications of this new political environment with the American Freedom Party.

Crist announces in 2015 that he will run for reelection.  He is unopposed in the party primaries.  However, Vice President Murray has been asked to not run for reelection.  She has been suffering a minor scandal from her days as a Senator involving defense contracts.  Instead, she chooses to run for Governor of Washington.  At the AFP convention (held in late May), Crist chooses Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut for his running mate.  Although Lieberman is more liberal on economics than most AFPers, his foreign policy record is one of the most respected in the AFP caucus.

[True Democrat]

As Democratic primaries have not been held since 2000 (Democrats don't have enough money or organization left to run primaries), the convention meets in New York to choose a candidate.  Although some states held caucuses, less 10% of delegates are actually bound to a candidate.  At the convention, former President Baucus leads the first ballot with about 350 (out of 1000 votes).  Six hundred votes are needed to win the nomination under the new rules.  Here is the first ballot:

Former President Baucus (MT): 361
Former VP candidate and current Senator Feingold (WI): 209
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 187
Governor Kennedy (RI): 150
President Crist (FL): 36
Senator Frank (MA): 29
Other Candidates: 28

Some Democrats still wishing to reunite with the AFP support Crist.

On the second ballot, only Feingold and Frank drop out, though they make no endorsement.  Surprisingly Governor Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island is now leading former President Baucus:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 401 (+251)
Former President Baucus (MT): 322 (-39)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 193 (+6)
President Crist (FL): 25 (-11)
Other Candidates: 59 (+31)

The third ballot launches Kennedy to a majority of the votes, but it is still not enough to win the nomination.  Many delegates are now upset with all the candidates and are voting for favorite sons:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 536 (+135)
Former President Baucus (MT): 180 (-142)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 164 (-29)
President Crist (FL): 19 (-6)
Other Candidates: 101 (+42)

President Baucus, now realizing his numbers are falling fast, drops out of the race.  He instructs his delegates to vote for Sebelius, which most of them do.  A number of favorite sons gain over 10 delegates to appear with the other major candidates.  Here is the fourth ballot:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 555 (+19)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 314 (+150)
Representative Obama (IL): 21 (+12)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 20 (+12)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 12 (+4)
President Crist (FL): 11 (-8)
Other Candidates: 67 (-34)

On the fifth ballot, Kennedy comes extremely close, but still can't secure the nomination.  Baucus, Sebelius, and other populists still control enough of the party to block Kennedy's nomination.  Here's the fifth ballot:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 571 (+16)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 290 (-24)
Representative Obama (IL): 20 (-1)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 17 (-3)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 14 (+2)
Other Candidates: 88 (-21)

Most of the "Other" candidates make their final endorsements, and the movement to draft Crist has died.  Most of these favorite sons actually endorse Sebelius, not wanting to anger the party establishment.  However, many people are beginning to look for a compromise candidate.  Kennedy loses votes for the first time on the sixth ballot:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 565 (-6)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 368 (+78)
Representative Obama (IL): 18 (-2)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 15 (+1)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 14 (-3)
Other Candidates: 20 (-68)

On the seventh ballot, discontent with both Kennedy and Sebelius grow, leading to increased numbers for two of the three favorite sons still in the running:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 531 (-34)
Former VP Sebelius (KS): 338 (-30)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 54 (+40)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 39 (+24)
Representative Obama (IL): 17 (-1)
Other Candidates: 21 (+1)

Sebelius, knowing she cannot win, drops out.  She is not expected to make an endorsement, but surprisingly, she endorses Senatoe Luke Ravenstahl of Pennsylvania. 

Ravenstahl who became mayor of Pittsburgh in 2006 after the death of Mayor Bob O'Connor.  Ravenstahl was subsequently elected in 2007 winning 80% of the vote in the general election (though squeaking out the primary by 5% with 37% of the vote).  In 2008, he shocked the Democratic party by winning the nomination for Senator over Representative Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia.  An election was held in 2008 due to the death of Senator Arlen Specter.  Ravenstahl won that general election against former Representative Pat Toomey with 54% of the vote.  He was elected to a full term in 2010 with 56%, this time against Representative Tim Murphy.  Ravenstahl is known to be moderately liberal on economics issues and to the right of center on social issues.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in addition to serving in a number of state offices in California, was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in 2005 with 59% of the vote in the runoff against James K. Hahn (Villaraigosa got 33% in the general).  In 2009, Villaraigosa was reelected with 68% of the vote in the general election.  He was elected to a third term with 79% of the vote in 2013.  Villaraigosa considered challenging Barbara Boxer for Senator in 2010, but decided against it.  Villaraigosa is liberal on economic issues and socially moderate.

Here is the eighth ballot with Sebelius' endorsement of Ravenstahl:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 535 (+4)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 301 (+262)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 105 (+51)
Representative Obama (IL): 29 (+12)
Other Candidates: 30 (+9)

Kennedy was expecting more of a boost with Sebelius leaving the race, but he only got four more votes.  Ravenstahl is now the main competitor to Kennedy.  Obama drops out after this round and endorses Villaraigosa.  The ninth ballot:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 499 (-36)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 357 (+56)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 133 (+28)
Other Candidates: 11 (-19)

When Ravenstahl asks Villaraigosa to drop, he refuses, believing that in the next round he will overtake Ravenstahl as the main competitor.  The tenth ballot:

Governor Kennedy (RI): 450 (-49)
Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 401 (+44)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (CA): 144 (+11)
Other Candidates: 5 (-6)

Villaraigosa drops out of the race after this round.  The eleventh, and final, ballot allows Ravenstahl to capture the nomination:

Senator Ravenstahl (PA): 612 (+211)
Governor Kennedy (RI): 381 (-69)
Other Candidates: 7 (+2)

Former President Baucus motions to make the nomination unanimous.

Senator Luke Ravenstahl, at the age of 36, wins the Democratic nomination for President.  For VP he puts forward Villaraigosa's name for consideration.  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, 63 years old, wins the nomination on the first ballot with 914 votes.  Ravenstahl also announces that he will not run for reelection to the Senate.

After the convention, which ended on July 18th, a poll is released:

Crist/Lieberman: 37%
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa: 32%
Generic Republican Ticket: 18%
LaMarche/McKinney: 6%
Other/Undecided: 7%

The Green Party candidates, Green party national committee chairman Patricia LaMarche, and former Democratic Representative Cynthia McKinney are garnering over 5% of the vote.  This is seen as socially and economically liberal voters having no place to go with the Democrats moving to the communitarian side.  The generic Republican candidate is polling under 20%.  However, the biggest surprise of all is that Ravenstahl is only 5% behind President Crist, who is extremely popular as shown in his approval poll:

Approve: 63%
Disapprove: 35%

[CPT MikeyMike]

TD - I love it.  Keep it up Buddy!

[True Democrat]

Oh sh**t.  I just realized I did the 2008 election twice (I took a huge break between writing those two elections.  I'll work on fixing it).

Ok, fixed.

[True Democrat]

Here's an updated list of all the Presidents so far:

Reagan (R): January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989
     defeated Jimmy Carter (D) and John Anderson (I) in 1980
     defeated Walter Mondale (D) in 1984
George H.W. Bush (R): January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1997
     defeated Bill Clinton (D) and Ralph Nader (I) in 1992
     defeated Ralph Nader (D) in 1996
Tom Ridge (R): January 20, 1997 - September 28, 1997
     defeated John Kerry (D) in 1996
     assassinated in 1997
Tommy Thompson (R): September 28, 1997 - January 20, 2005
     defeated Bill Clinton (AF) and Ralph Nader (D) in 2000
Bill Clinton (AF): January 20, 2005 - January 20, 2009
     defeated Jeb Bush (R) and Russ Feingold (D) in 2004
Max Baucus (D): January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2013
     defeated Bill Clinton (AF) in 2008
Charlie Crist (AF): January 20, 2013 - ?
     defeated Mike Pence (R) and Max Baucus (D) in 2012
     defeated Luke Ravenstahl (D) and Patricia LaMarche (G) in 2016

Vice-Presidents:

George H.W. Bush (R): January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989
     defeated Walter Mondale (D) and Patrick Lucey (I) in 1980
     defeated Geraldine Ferraro (D) in 1984
Dan Quayle (R): January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1997
     defeated Chuck Robb (D) and Bernie Sanders (I) in 1988
     defeated Jesse Jackson (D) in 1992
Tommy Thompson (R): January 20, 1997 - September 28, 1997
     defeated Angus King (I, but running with a D) in 1996
     resigned to become President upon the death of President Ridge
Vacant: September 28, 1997 - November 22, 1997
Tim Hutchinson (R): November 22, 1997 - January 17, 2000
     appointed by President Thompson
     resigned due to scandal
Vacant: January 17, 2000 - January 20, 2001
Max Baucus (AF): January 20, 2001 - April 17, 2008
     defeated Mitch McConnell (R) and Paul Wellstone (D) in 2000
     defeated Chuck Hagel (R) and Gary Locke (D) in 2004
     resigned due to disagreement with and running against President Clinton
Vacant: April 17, 2008 - May 2, 2008
Phil Bredesen (AF): May 2, 2008 - January 20, 2009
     appointed by President Clinton
Kathleen Sebelius (D): January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2013
     defeated Phil Bredesen (AF) in 2012
Patty Murray (AF): January 20, 2013 - January 20, 2017
     defeated Tom Tancredo (R) and Kathleen Sebelius (D) in 2012
     chose not to run for reelection due to minor scandal
Joseph Lieberman (AF): January 20, 2017
     defeated Antonio Villaraigosa (D) and Cynthia McKinney (G) in 2016

[True Democrat]

Here all the maps of the elections:

1988



Bush/Quayle (R): 46%, 386 electoral votes
Clinton/Robb (D): 42%, 152 electoral votes
Nader/Sanders (I): 11%, 0 electoral votes
Other: 1%

1992



Bush/Quayle (R): 64%, 525 electoral votes
Nader/Jackson (D): 35%, 13 elecotral votes

1996



Ridge/Thompson (R): 53%, 381 electoral votes
Kerry (D)/King (I): 46%, 157 electoral votes
Other: 1%

2000



Thompson/McConnell (R): 35%, 223 electoral votes
Clinton/Baucus (AF): 34%, 158 electoral votes
Nader/Wellstone (D): 31%, 157 electoral votes

Thompson is elected by the House, and Baucus is elected by the Senate.

2004



Clinton/Baucus (AF): 46%, 456 electoral votes
Bush/Hagel (R): 32%, 82 electoral votes
Feingold/Locke (D): 21%, 0 electoral votes

2008



Baucus/Sebelius (D): 52%, 271 electoral votes
Clinton/Bredesen (AF): 47%, 267 electoral votes

2012



Crist/Murray (AF): 45%, 273 electoral votes
Pence/Tancredo (R): 28%, 155 electoral votes
Baucus/Sebelius (D): 26%, 110 electoral votes

2016



Crist/Lieberman (AF): 67%, 538 electoral votes
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa (D): 17%, 0 electoral votes
LaMarche/McKinney (G): 16%, 0 electoral votes

[True Democrat]

The Republican convention is now held much like the Democratic convention.  Although primaries were held in every state, no big names bothered to enter the race.  The most well known candidate in the primaries was Representative Tancredo, who the party now discredits.  Although balloting will occur much like the Democratic convention, the party leaders have much more.  The party establishment is thought to be evently split between three options: endorse no one, endorse President Crist, and a run a candidate (though not Tancredo).  Only a majority of the 1000 delegates are needed to win the Republican nomination.

This is the first ballot:

Representative Tom Tancredo (CO): 301
No Candidate: 299
President Charlie Crist (FL): 217
Senator Luke Ravenstahl (PA): 138
Senator Jim Talent: 40
Others: 5

In the second ballot, Tancredo loses a lot of votes, as does the movement to co-endorse the Democratic candidate.  These votes are split mainly between Senator Talent, no candidate, and President Crist.  The second ballot:

No candidate: 312 (+13)
President Charlie Crist (FL): 254 (+37)
Representative Tom Tancredo (CO): 225 (-76)
Senator Jim Talent: 141 (+101)
Senator Luke Ravenstahl (PA): 60 (-78)
Others: 8 (+3)

Tancredo then takes name out of consideration, which causes a three way split on the third ballot:

President Charlie Crist (FL): 334 (+80)
No candidate: 321 (+9)
Senator Jim Talent: 317 (+176)
Senator Luke Ravenstahl (PA): 19 (-41)
Others: 9 (+1)

On the fourth ballot, Talent has just about secured the nomination.  His numbers are rising extremely fast.  No votes remain for Ravenstahl:

Senator Jim Talent: 487 (+170)
President Charlie Crist (FL): 276 (-58)
No candidate: 230 (-91)
Others: 7 (-2)

However, as Talent goes to address the convention on the eve of the ballot that will likely nominate him, he makes a surprise announcement.  He announces that he will not be running for President and that he releases all of his delegates.  He says, however, that he would like to see the Republican party run a candidate, indicating his support for Crist.  On the fifth ballot, President Crist wins the endorsement of the Republican party:

President Charlie Crist (FL): 571 (+295)
No candidate: 327 (+97)
Others: 102 (+95)

In a public statement the next day, President Crist announces he is happy to receive the endorsement of his former party, though he doesn't dwell on the issue.  He calls for unity among all parties.  This poll is then released:

Crist/Lieberman: 52%
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa: 35%
LaMarche/McKinney: 7%
Other/Undecided: 6%

Crist has clearly benefitted from the Republican endorsement.

In the first debate shortly after Labor Day, Ravenstahl's lack of experience is shown.  Crist exploits this in a similar way Reagan did in 1984 with Mondale.  In the Vice Presidential debate a week later, Lieberman again wins on experience, especially on Villaraigosa's lack of experience on all national policy.  Villaraigosa attempts to appear as an outsider, but he instead appear naive.  A poll after these two debate is released:

Crist/Lieberman: 55%
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa: 30%
LaMarche/McKinney: 12%
Other/Undecided: 3%

LaMarche's huge jump can be explained by those voters who became dissatisfied with Ravenstahl, but are not willing to support Crist.

On October 4, 2016, civil war once again breaks out in the former Yugoslavia.  The last time the US intervened, under President Clinton (AF), it became extremely unpopular.  However, this time, Serbian nationalists attacked a US military installation outside of Belgrade.  The former Yugoslav countries, which were put into a loose confederation under President  Baucus, who ended the war, have had internal strife.  Crist uses the war as an issue to show where his experience is needed.  He orders a swift military strike of all building associated with the "fascist Serbian nationalist" institutions, as he calls them.  Here is his new approval:

Approve: 74%
Disapprove: 25%

And a new election poll:

Crist/Lieberman: 61%
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa: 21%
LaMarche/McKinney: 16%
Other/Undecided: 2%

Because Ravenstahl has refused to take a position against the popular war (though extremely unpopular among the extreme liberals), his poll numbers have dropped.  Liberal Democrats, who are greatly opposed to the war, have swithced their support to LaMarche, who immediately came out against the war.  In the final debate, LaMarche is included.  The debate is mainly a match between Crist and LaMarche over the war.  Most public opinion indicates Crist wins, but liberal support is cemented for LaMarche.  Ravenstahl looks like he has no idea what is going on.

On election day, Crist does the unthinkable: he wins every state.  His overall popular vote percentage is even higher than President Bush in 1992  (which was 65%).  In states where he should have lost (primarily VT, MA, and DC where the war's approval is around 40%), Crist is able to win due to split support between Ravenstahl and LaMarche.  LaMarche nearly comes in second place.  Crist is able to reclaim a lot of AF support in the South, though support in the Moutain West reaches epic proportions.  In the midwest, the war is extremely popular.



Crist/Lieberman: 67%, 538 electoral votes
Ravenstahl/Villaraigosa: 17%, 0 electoral votes
LaMarche/McKinney: 16%, 0 electoral votes

[True Democrat]

The American Freedom Party also makes huges gains in the House and Senate.  With LaMarche's 16%, the Green Party was able to win two house seats (VT-AL and ME-1).  The Green Party candidates caucus with the Republican-Democratic caucus.  Although the Republicans were first going to pull out of the caucus because of their support of Crist, they decided to stay in at the last minute:

House:
American Freedom: 299 (+41)
Republican: 80 (-11)
Democrat: 54 (-31)
Green: 2 (+2)
Indpendent: 0 (-1) (caucuses with AF)

With caucusing:
American Freedom: 299 (+40)
Republican-Democrat: 136 (-40)

Senate:
American Freedom: 56 (+9)
Democrat: 24 (-8)
Republican: 20 (-1)

With caucusing:

American Freedom: 56 (+9)
Republican-Democrat: 44 (-9)

Here are the outcomes of the two house races where the Green Party candidate won:

VT-AL:
Green: 31%
American Freedom: 28%
Democrat: 22%
Republican: 19%

ME-1:
Green: 38%
American Freedom: 33%
Republican: 28%
(The Democrats cross-endorsed the Green Party candidate, likely the reason why he won)

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I plan on doing a future timeline of my own only it won't be focused soley on US politics...

[True Democrat]

In the 2018 midterm elections, The American Freedom (still riding on support of the popular war in Serbia, which they appear to be winning), make huge gains in both Houses.  However, the war is still extremely unpopular among a number of liberals.  Because the Democrats and Republicans have not taken a firm stance against the war, only the Green Party is in oppoisition.  The Green Party also makes gains.  The Republicans also caucus with the American Freedom in order to gain from the support of the war.  The Republicans lose very few seats for their support, but the Democrats (seen as with an identity) lose the most:

House:
American Freedom: 312 (+13)
Republican: 75 (-5)
Democrat: 37 (-17)
Green: 11 (+9)
Indpendent: 0 (+/-0)

With caucusing:
American Freedom-Republican: 387 (+88)
Democrat-Green: 48 (-88)

The Greens even do well in a few Senate races (which causes the Democrats to lost a huge number of seats):

American Freedom: 62 (+6)
Republican: 22 (+2)
Democrat: 14 (-10)
Green: 2 (+2)

With caucusing:

American Freedom-Republican: 84 (+28)
Democrat-Green: 16(-28)

Meanwhile, the Governors now look like this (the mayor of DC is now considered by most poltical analysts to be like a Governor, since DC has a lot more autonomy now):



American Freedom: 21
Republican: 15
Democratic: 14
Green: 1

For the first time, American Freedom has more governors than any other party (due to picking up a number of seats in the NE from Democrats who lost support to the Green candidate).

Percentages of each house and number of governors, by party:

House:
American Freedom: 71.72%
Republican: 17.24%
Democrat: 8.51%
Green: 2.53%

Senate:
American Freedom: 62%
Republican: 22%
Democrat: 14%
Green: 2%

Governors:
American Freedom: 41.18%
Republican: 29.41%
Democratic: 27.45%
Green: 1.96%

With talk of a possible merger between the Republicans and the American Freedom, America would essentially become a one party state, with the AF-RNC controlling 89% of the House, 84% of the Senate, and 71% of Governors.