Wednesday autopsy: What happened to Nevada Republicans?
Incumbent Dean Heller issued a challenge to state Republicans during his concession speech to Jacky Rosen, who defeated him Tuesday in their race for U.S. Senate. “As a party,” he said, “we’re going to have to come together and decide how we’re going to go forward in the future.” Undeniably, the party’s approach to the 2018 midterms didn’t work, not only for Heller but nearly up and down the ticket. “We hit a blue wave,” Heller said after a night when Steve Sisolak defeated Adam Laxalt to become the state’s first Democratic governor in 20 years and three of the state’s four congressional seats were claimed by Democrats. So what happened? embraced it as one — a break from the standard practice of presidents with low approval ratings staying largely on the sidelines in midterms.
In Nevada, the referendum clearly
It starts with Trump
Midterm elections are always a referendum on the president, and this one was no different in that regard. What was different was that President Donald Trump went against Trump, as candidates who embraced his policies on immigration, health care, gun safety, women’s rights and more were defeated and voters instead sent Democrats Rosen, Susie Lee and Steve Horsford to Congress.
“The politics of fear and division — they have lost,” Rosen said to cheers in her acceptance speech at Caesars Palace.
Trump, after being silent on Twitter as results came in, released a series of Tweets early Wednesday taking credit for Republicans adding two seats to their majority in the Senate. In a news conference later, he minimized the party’s defeats in the House.
“Those that worked with me in this incredible Midterm Election, embracing certain policies and principles, did very well. Those that did not, say goodbye! Yesterday was such a very Big Win, and all under the pressure of a Nasty and Hostile