By Peter Gallotta–
On November 7th, Democrats throughout America breathed a small sigh of relief. The “blue wave” may not have been the tsunami many of us were hoping for, but boy did it deliver results. The biggest, of course, being a Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives. Democrats won 222 seats to Republicans’ 196, with some races still in contention days after the election.
According to The New York Times, 317 of the 435 Congressional districts in the United States swung to the left, voting more Democratic compared with 2016. In a speech on election night, Congresswoman and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called it a “a new day for America.”
It may be a new day for the Democratic Party, too. Beyond the blue wave, there’s a blue undercurrent forming thanks to a cadre of diverse, inspiring Democratic candidates running up and down the ballot. These candidates are turning out voters and many are winning. The 116th U.S. Congress will include the first Native American and Muslim congresswomen, the first refugee, the first Somali-American and the first lesbian mom—all Democrats. At 28, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York will be the youngest person (and Democrat) ever elected to serve in Congress. This is the new bench of Democratic Party leadership that we’ve desperately needed.
This newly minted Democratic majority also includes many progressive candidates willing to champion policies like “Medicare for All” and take on establishment Democrats, the 1% and corporate elites. How they work together with the veteran members like Leader Pelosi to set an agenda for the country, and for the Party, will be telling. Their first task—or test—will be choosing a new Speaker of the House. Pelosi wants the gavel back and in no uncertain terms has earned it, but will she get the new progressive class behind her?
Nationally, election day proved hopeful for the LGBTQ community. In Massachusetts, a state ballot measure upholding protections for transgender people in public accommodations passed by over 66%. Colorado voters elected Jared Polis to be their Governor. He makes history as being the first openly gay man to win a governorship in the United States.
Four new LGBT candidates were elected to the House—Chris Pappas, Angie Craig, Katie Hill, and Sharice Davids. Davids is also the first openly gay Native American in Congress. Democrats have already signaled that with a majority in the House, they will likely move to pass the Equality Act outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity—a policy that would transform LGBT civil rights throughout the country.
Locally, progressive Democrats and progressive ballot measures ran the field and won. Voters were not buying what the big, special interest money was trying to sell. Instead, San Franciscans elected independent, progressive Supervisors with key victories in District 6 (Matt Haney) and District 4 (Gordon Mar).
For the first time in years, the progressives have a near veto-proof majority on the Board of Supervisors, which means that they can set the agenda and go toe to toe with the Mayor. Their first task in January will be electing a new Board President and it most certainly will be one of the progressive members.
Rumored to be in the running for the job are District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and newly elected District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. And I wouldn’t count out District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin from making a play for it either. The votes will be there; it’s just a question of who can count to six.
Peter Gallotta is a 30-something LGBT political activist holding on to the city that he loves thanks to rent control and two-for-one happy hour specials. He is a former President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club and currently serves as an appointed member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and an elected delegate to the California Democratic Party.
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