The best-case scenario for Democrats this Election Day is a lot better than the worst-case scenario—and with a lot of close races, a wide range of outcomes is possible—but it's safe to say we won't be feeling the joy of 2006 or 2008. Minimum wage initiatives in
four red states are one of the brightest spots, and Katrina vanden Heuvel
focuses on them to offer a sort of preemptive "don't mourn, organize" message:
Indeed, after Seattle raised its minimum wage to a record $15 an hour and fast-food workers nationwide united to demand higher pay, the undeniable resonance of this issue with mostly apathetic midterm voters demonstrates the power of social movements to transcend partisan politics and drive the electoral agenda. Furthermore, it is a clear signal that these elections, whatever their outcome, should not be thought of as a triumph of right-wing politics over progressive Democratic ideas. To the contrary, if Republicans prevail, it will be in spite of their support for right-wing policies.
Unfortunately, we see that a lot. We see a personhood measure likely to be defeated in Colorado while personhood-supporting candidates like Cory Gardner and Joni Ernst lead in the polls in Colorado and Iowa. Sure, they have to dip and dodge so voters aren't aware of their personhood support, but too often they manage. Similarly with the minimum wage—Republicans in close races may be forced to walk back their opposition to raising the minimum wage or even having a minimum wage at all, but all too often their walk-backs succeed.
Minimum wage measures are a potent reminder that Democratic policies are more popular than Republican policies. That's something to build on—but that means getting really serious about the "organize" part of "don't mourn, organize."