Political pundits have extensively analyzed last weekâs election, and a consensus has emerged that this was a classic âpocketbookâ election. Voters were motivated chiefly by economic concerns, such as the price of groceries, utilities, rent, etc. Theyâre also not too happy about the government shutdown.
But the social issues championed by Christian Nationalists did surface in some races, and this time, they didnât pay off. Nov. 4 was not a good night for Christian Nationalists.
Hereâs a closer look at some of the races:
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears anchored her campaign in anti-trans messages, especially issues related to public schools. It failed spectacularly. Polls showed that only 3% of voters in the Old Dominion identified this as a top issue. Abigail Spanberger, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, handily defeated Earle-Sears, 57.2% to 42.6%.
Our friends at the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) reported an important victory at the local level. Voters ousted a far-right majority on the Cypress-Fairbanks school board, one of the largest in the state. As TFN put it, âThe previous far-right majority, backed by deep-pocketed political groups, banned books, gutted librarian positions, imposed anti-LGBTQIA+ policies, and prioritized political pandering over student success.â
Christian Nationalist groups like Moms for Liberty have been especially active in the Keystone State. Voters are clearly fed up. The Huffington Post reported that moderates expanded their majorities on two targeted boards, Pennbridge and Central Bucks. Noted HuffPo, âA few years ago, conservatives on these boards in Pennbridge and Central Bucks districts were using their roles to pass policies targeting LGBTQ+ students and banning books. Democrats flipped control of both boards in 2023, and on Tuesday, they ousted every Republican from both of these boards, except for one. The Pennbridge school board is now 8-1, with Democratic members in control. The Central Bucks school board is 9-0.â
Chalkbeat Colorado, an education site, reported that voters âopted for more progressive candidates in key school board races across Colorado on Tuesday, in some cases breaking the hold of conservative board majorities and in others adding more left- or center-leaning voices to right-leaning boards.â
School boards dominated by the right wing fell in at least three Colorado districts: Douglas County, Woodland Park and Mesa County Valley District 51 in Grand Junction. As Chalkbeat noted, âWoodland Park in particular has been roiled by school board tumult in recent years, with staff resignations, teacher gag orders, and religious proselytization by some board members.â
Voters continue to support public libraries. EveryLibrary reported that voters in Skagit County, Wash., Truckee, Calif., and Washington County, Oregon, approved ballot measures to provide adequate funding for public libraries in the communities.
The situation at the national level may be discouraging these days, but Tuesday’s results show that we are not fated to live under the iron heel of Christian Nationalism. When voters get organized and show up, things can and do change.
