Forward Janesville - TheReport - Fourth Quarter 2020

FOURTH QUARTER 2020 • 7 Election Day Narratives: Here’s something that many pundits predicted correctly: the pre-election narratives of big election day totals for Trump followed by a Biden comeback as early and absentee votes were counted came true. Yet many of us forgot about these predictions as the votes were counted. Democrats had some 2016 moments on election night, as Florida went red and Trump jumped to early leads in many states. But the pundits and prognosticators told us it would be this way—that Trump’s leads would slowly evaporate as mail in votes were tabulated. And that’s exactly what happened. When the dust finally settles, Biden will receive just under 80 million votes and win the popular vote by over five million votes. This is not a political statement: barring an electoral count disaster this side of the Hindenburg, Joe Biden beat President Trump closely yet decisively. Something for Everyone: With the notable exception of President Trump, the 2020 election contained something for nearly everyone to be happy about. Democrats should obviously be happy about claiming the White House and ending the Trump era of American politics, at least for the moment. The presidency is the ultimate prize, and knocking off a figure as resilient as Donald Trump is a massive accomplishment in its own right. But for the Democrats, much of the good news ends there. They suffered disappointing defeats up and down the ballot. Republicans had a very good night across the country, including in Wisconsin. Nationally, they held on to control of the US Senate for now (the Georgia special elections in early January will ultimately decide control) and significantly narrowed the Democratic majority in the US House of Representatives. Republicans also held on to power in many state legislatures across the nation, including in Wisconsin. (This has huge implications for state redistricting, which will take place in the next few years.) In Wisconsin, the Republicans lost a few seats in the state Assembly, but will still wield a 61-38 advantage. They gained two seats in the state Senate, which gives them a 21-12 majority—just one vote shy of a veto-proof margin. There were no big surprises in area assembly and senate races. Sue Conley defeated DuWayne Severson in the race to succeed retiring Janesville Representative Deb Kolste in the state assembly. However, the local returns did contain one pleasant surprise: the passage of the School District of Janesville and Blackhawk Technical College referendums. Forward Janesville endorsed all three referendums, and we believe the outcome will help lead our educational institutions forward. What Does it all Mean? The new president will face a deeply polarized nation on day one, and will seek some early wins on issues where there is some bipartisan will: a coronavirus stimulus legislation, a long-term federal transportation spending bill, etc. Take any talk of the Green New Deal or other far- left proposals with a grain of salt, as a divided Congress will prevent the Biden Administration from going too far out on any partisan limb. After an extremely difficult year, I am hoping for a resurgence of bipartisanship and civility in Washington and across the nation. America needs some wins, and the American people deserve leaders who will work together to solve real problems. The plot twists were straight out of a movie, and they gave the election an uneasy roller-coaster quality, complete with the queasiness.