# How did the Dem's do on Down Ticket Candidates? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164 "2020-11-09T18:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164/1 "2020-11-09T18:42:38Z")
Just curious. I’m pretty sure the one way to prevent another Trump from happening (or minimize the damage if it did) would be to start building up the Democratic from the ground up. Get younger more idealistic diverse candidates exposed to politics with the idea they’ll try to move up the political ladder. With everyone focused on the Presidential outcome what about at the state or municipal level? Were those results pretty typical (status quo), or was there a “Blue Wave” at those lower levels of Government? MtM ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164/2 "2020-11-09T19:53:17Z")
Don’t know about the municipal level, but the Republicans gained a stronger grip in the state legislatures, more or less minimized their losses in the Senate (may keep majority - Collins even won in Maine,) and may even gain a few House seats. So this was not a ‘blue wave’ in any sense. Trump lost because he himself was so odious to so many voters, but the Republican Party itself was not repudiated. > **[Republicans solidify grip on state legislatures, which is likely to lead to...](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/06/republicans-to-lead-redistricting-efforts-in-many-states-in-2021.html)** > > Redistricting will take place in 2021after the 2020 U.S. Census. Republicans made gains in state legislatures, which could lead to more gerrymandering. > **[House GOP celebrates unexpected gains](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/524566-house-gop-celebrates-gains/)** > > House Republicans may not have taken back control of the lower chamber, but GOP lawmakers say they see the party’s sizable gains as a promising sign they can take back the House in 2022. … ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164/3 "2020-11-09T19:55:36Z")
It was definitely a “blue wave” in the sense of turnout increasing – turnout for Democrats was just historic. Colossal! Problem is that it was an amazing blue wave happening at the same time with a moderate red wave. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164/4 "2020-11-17T18:04:25Z")
By any standard the Reps won the election down ballot. They gained only two senate seats while losing one and they seem to be headed to a loss of maybe ten house seats, maintaining a bare majority. If the usual mid-term loss in 2022 happens they will control both houses. Leaving Trump aside, it has really been a disaster for the Dems. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-dems-do-on-down-ticket-candidates/925164/5 "2020-11-17T19:07:20Z")
Not by “any standard”. If part of the standard is “did the Dems hold the House”, then they did meet that part. If the standard is “did the Dems get closer to holding the Senate”, then they also met that one. This wasn’t nearly the big win I was hoping for, but we did pretty well, especially considering the fact (that I would never have thought possible) that Trump gained at least 10 million voters from last time.