I’m not inclined to read too much into any single result, but I don’t think it’s outlandish to imagine Bevin’s loss as a blueprint for a Trump loss in 2020: “Yes, we are Republicans, but this dude is just too much of a slimeball. Sorry.”
By no means a prediction, but a conceivable path.
When Snyder was governor here in MI, he and the Republican-led legislature agreed to institute that stupid work requirement for Medicaid expansion of the ACA, putting 183,000 at risk of losing their healthcare. But because our state legislature is so gerrymandered, it hasn’t been rescinded.
The Democratic Governor, Whitmer, has said she wants the legislature to adopt looser requirements and make it possible to give those who are enrolled more time to prove they’re meeting the new rules. I don’t understand why she doesn’t just pull out of the stupid waiver and say MI won’t go along with it in the form of some kind of executive order. The changes begin Jan 1st, 2020. Anyone under 62 that gets healthcare through expanded Medicaid under the ACA must verify onerous requirements that show 80 hours of employment per month, or 20 hours a week, or lose coverage.
Below is a post from TPMer @ajm (thanks, by the way)
[MSNBC is saying that Bevin was leading in the polls before Trump got there. I want to know the details.]
I like it.
Is she trying to get your attention, Ralph? Is it time to step away from TPM and walk the dog? 
Rowan county KY - +Beshear - take that Kim Davis!
Warren County KY - + Beshear - Bowling Green Massacre for Bevin. Where Rand Paul lives.
Has she been asked for an explanation?
(I don’t know.)
It ain’t over yet, folks:
Yeah, I heard that too. Sounds like something the Pennsylvania State Senate would have tried if Governor Wolf hadn’t won by such a clear majority.
Amazing what happens when you run on the ACA. Some presidential candidates should take note. So should some voters.
Bringin’ classy back. It’s refreshing.
And this may be why stronger GOp candidates dis-invite the President to campaign for them.
This is a clear signal that the guy is not much help, and may be more of a hindrance.
Next steps for a party whose M.O. is cheating. Only this time, the entire world knows it.
I mean that. The Entire World.
Maybe because coal country finally woke up to the realization that all the talk about their jobs being safe or getting better, even expanding under Bevin and tRump, was all bullshit. The coal industry is on the biggest downsizing during these last couple of years under tRump. Its a dying industry. It was before tRump took office but he told them what they wanted to hear. Now that its on the ropes, its hard to deny the changes that will happen. And ‘clean coal’ was always nothing more than a slogan.
The good thing though about Beshear being governor at least is that he can veto bullshit legislation when he sees crazy Republicans in his state trying to force through inane laws.
Hey McConnell, how you feeling this a.m. if your state elects a Dem governor? By the time your election is rolling there should be a lot more opposition to your nefarious ways.
LOL why would we care what the voters want? If we explain our unpopular pet policy at them loudly enough, they will eventually fall in line.
This goes doubly for the more moderate, less white Democrats. They probably know what they actually want least of all!
(sarcasm ought to be obvious, but on the internet, it never is, is it?)
“Fantastical.” How cute.
In Kentucky, Mitch McConnell is shitting shrimp tails.
Sideways.
Meanwhile, in Virginia …
I wonder if the results last night across the board might encourage some Dem Pres candidates to re-think their strategies and platforms.
PA last night, which flipped for Trump three years ago, was a solid blue win last night across the board. That’s in addition to NYS going for ranked choice and a whole bunch of other things that should tip forward for the Dems in 2020. I know everyone’s putting Wisconsin down, but we do have a Dem governor that was voted in by the same voters that will vote for President next year and this guy is pointing out all the obstruction by the GOP legislature on a daily basis.
Yesterday’s results are a bellwether for next year, but if the Dem POTUS candidates don’t pick up the signals, this is gonna be a tougher slog than it needs to be.
I do admire your equanimity. For Bevin I can’t help hoping for a plague of boils and maybe a touch of dysentery.
Latest: The Associated Press says the race is too close to call.10:30 PM ET
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Beshear | Democrat | 709,673 | 49.2% |
| Matt Bevin* | Republican | 704,523 | 48.8 |
| John Hicks | Libertarian | 28,426 | 2.0 |
This is where the NYT left it last night. Pretty damn close. Too bad as at some points Beshear was ahead by about 25,000 toward the end of counting.