Activism doesn't end after victory

Well, we did it.

This election, expected to be a dogfight at both state and national levels, has morphed into a resounding victory for American liberalism.

First, President Barack Obama was re-elected, of course. His margin of victory in the Electoral College was wider than commonly predicted, and he won the popular vote.
The Democrats extended their lead in the U.S. Senate, including upsets in Connecticut and North Dakota from Sen.-elect Chris Murphy and Sen.-elect Heidi Heitkamp, respectively, and a big win for progressives from Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts.

Claire McCaskill trounced Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin in Missouri, and Indiana’s Joe Donnelly beat Richard Mourdock. Though Donnelly is not the most progressive legislator himself when it comes to abortion rights, these races prove  the GOP is slipping further from past conservative views on women’s issues.

Female candidates also played a large part in this election. Hawaii’s Mazie Hirono is the first Asian woman to serve in the Senate. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin is now the first openly gay female Senator.  Tammy Duckworth beat Tea Party darling Joe Walsh to become the first disabled woman to serve in the House of Representatives. In fact, New Hampshire’s entire delegation to the 113th Congress will be  women.

The House elections were not as kind to Democrats, but some significant victories were still made. Another Tea Party leader, Allen West, was defeated in Florida. In the same state, liberal favorite Alan Grayson regained his seat in the 9th District.

The Democratic victories extend all the way down to Indiana politics, where Glenda Ritz, along with angry teachers and parents, defeated incumbent Tony Bennett and his harmful policies as Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The biggest victories, though, have nothing to do with candidates. Citizens of Washington and Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana. State funds for abortion providers were upheld in Florida. Montana and Colorado passed referenda speaking out against the controversial Citizens United ruling. California’s counterproductive “three strikes law” concerning drug possession will be reformed.
Perhaps most significantly, Minnesotans chose to not ban same-sex marriage through an amendment to the state constitution, and people in Maryland and Maine voted to enact full marriage equality in those states.

I believe  these direct ballot measures, though not suitable for all decisions, demonstrate a new trajectory for American society. These events show Americans care enough about these vitally important issues to learn about them and vote directly on them. In some ways, that is the real measure of progress in America.

Our newly elected officials will take their positions and face the challenges ahead. Just as their jobs are beginning, our jobs as citizens are not yet over. We need to hold our officials accountable for their performance and their principles – looking at you in regards to drone strikes, Mr. President. This thoughtful, constructive, supportive criticism is necessary to ensure America’s progress continues.

­— estahr@indiana.edu