American Redoubt 2018 Election Highlights

American Redoubt 2018 Election Highlights

by Shari Dovale

The general election for 2018 was hotly contested in many races throughout the American Redoubt. From National positions to local, including ballot measures and initiatives, each state had it’s ups and downs. No party seemed to produce the wave for which they were hoping.

With both sides seemingly happy, and at the same time upset, does this mean that something was done right, or was it done wrong?

Idaho federal and state offices went as expected in a straight Republican party ticket. The local level races were the ones to watch as several county positions were nail-biters. The biggest news of the day were the two propositions on the ballot.

Proposition 1 on horse racing was defeated while Proposition 2 for Medicaid Expansion was profoundly passed with a 60.6% to 39.4% total.

Montana’s most contested race was the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jon Tester. Challenged by Republican state Auditor Matt Rosendale, President Trump made an unprecedented 4 visits to the Big Sky state to encourage voters to retire Tester. That race is currently still undecided, as there are approximately 176 precincts still waiting to be counted, and the vote is too close to call.

Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte has held his House seat against Democrat Kathleen Williams with approximately 53% of the vote.

Wyoming clearly voted to stay red with the Republican John Barrasso more than doubling the number of votes his challenger received for US Senate, as did Liz Cheney in the House, and Mark Gordon for Governor.

Oregon elected Kate Brown to continue as governor instead of Republican Knute Buehler. This race clearly shows why our founders insisted on an electoral college. Kate Brown won the race with less than 100,000 votes total, but only triumphed in 7 counties, versus Buehler winning in 29 counties. The voters of the highly populated liberal coastal cities, including Portland, have decided the race for the entire state.

Washington passed a highly controversial measure for gun control with Initiative 1639. There is already a challenged expected in the courts over this measure. Washington now has one of the strictest gun laws in the country.

Spokane Valley Republicans Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin each retained there seats in clear victories, despite an extraordinary amount of negative attention heaped on Rep. Shea this election cycle.