POLITICAL WRANGLING: ELECTION FIRSTS AND ODDITIES

By Buck Schott

November 8, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- You’ve heard the hottest election stories. But have you heard the oddest?  Or a few historic firsts?  

Dead pimp elected:  Nevada voters elected a brothel owner, the Republican nominee for a state legislative seat, despite the fact that he died in October. Dennis Hof, known as the “Trump of Parumph” was also a reality TV star of the show “Cat House.”  Yes, it really can be weirder than San Diegans reelecting an indicted Congressman; at least Duncan Hunter is still breathing.

First Native American women elected to Congress: Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Kansas are members of the Ho Chunk and Pueblo Laguna tribes.

Record number of women in Congress seats:  At least 100 women will be serving in the House of Representatives, after 35 won elections in the mid-terms—and several races remain to be counted.  That shatters the old record of 85 female representatives. Maybe this year’s candidates were fed up with misogyny, like President Trump’s declaration that he can grab women “by the pussy.” 

Voters dump anti-gay county clerk:  Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who went to jail rather than issue marriage licenses to gay couples after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriages, has been defeated by a Democrat who pledges to support the law.

First gay governor:  Jared Polis in Colorado will be the nation’s first openly gay governor—in the state where a wedding cake baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple took his challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court. No word on whether he’ll be invited to cater the inaugural party….

Florida gubernatorial candidate unconcedes: Seeking to become Florida’s first African-American governor, Andrew Gillum has withdrawn his concession after late-counted ballots tightened the race. He’s now pushing for a recount.

Abortion limits passed:  Voters in Alabama approved an amendment to the state’s constitution to eliminate the right to abortions, CNN reports.  That means abortions could be history in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

Weirdest ballot combo:  Florida voters by a 60% margin voted to ban both offshore drilling and vaping indoors – both in the same ballot initiative. Confused voters learn the odd pairing was due to efforts to reduce air pollution.