Election Surprises

Florida: It's no surprise that Katherine Harris lost badly to incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, but anticipation continues to build over her threat, as originally related last week to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, to write a "tell-all book about the conspiracy to undermine her Senate bid." The Washington Post picked up on this and now word has spread all the way across the nation as far as Los Angeles.

If Harris also 'tells all' about the 2000 Florida recount that put Bush in the White House, it's bound to be a best-seller. But, please: No make-up tips, okay?

Louisiana: Maybe we shouldn't be surprised, but incumbent Rep. William Jefferson (D-Cold Cash) topped a crowded list of multiple candidates seeking his seat in Congress. Only one of those politicians is publicly known to keep $90,000 in cash in a home freezer. But this is Louisiana, where nothing is beyond imagining. There will be a run-off election between Jefferson and state representative Karen Carter, also a Democrat, on December 9.

Texas: Widely unpopular incumbent Texas governor William Perry spent over $20 million to win reelection, but with only 39 percent of all votes he fell considerably short of a majority. Among the four other candidates, cowboy comedian, mystery-writer, and stage-performer Kinky Friedman garnered 12 percent -- or 11 percent more than the Libertarian candidate. Friedman's official campaign slogan was , "Why the hell not?" Instead of conceding defeat, he told disappointed supporters last night he will "take to the streets" and "form a shadow government."

Also in Texas, Democrat Nick Lampson won the congressional seat that once belonged to ex-majority leader Tom Delay, who's now under indictment. Oddly, however, Houston dermatologist Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, a Republican, will be the one serving out the remaining two months of Delay's abandoned term in office. Sekula-Gibbs was a write-in candidate against Lampson but the only one who officially filed to run in a separate race for the rest of Delay's expiring term.

North Carolina: For the first time in over a decade, Democrats will constitute a majority of this state's 13-member congressional delegation. Heading the list of victors was ex-NFL quarterback Heath Shuler, who ran an aggressive campaign demanding "accountability from the Administration over the course of events in and return credibility and competence to Congressional oversight."

Iowa: Republican Rep. Jim Leach, a 30-year veteran, former Foreign Service employee, chairman of the House Banking Committee, and one of the few remaining moderates in the G.O.P. narrowly lost to Cornell College Prof. Bruce Braley (D-Mount Vernon) in a recently-reapportioned district. Both incumbent and challenger had opposed Bush's war in Iraq. Both ran entirely positive campaigns, never stooping to negative attacks. How Iowa of them.

Although Braley's victory was razor-thin, Leach conceded early this morning and said, "This is the happiest day of my life. It’s as if a burden has been lifted."

South Dakota: Almost 90 percent (!) of voters in this state rejected the proposed "Judicial Accountability" referendum which "would have created a special grand jury of South Dakotans to review complaints against jurors, county commissioners, prosecutors, city councilors, board members and judges - in essence, those with judicial immunity." A companion measure to ban all abortions was soundly defeated 55-45 percent.

Another measure that would have legalized medical marijuana was defeated 52-48 percent. According to an AP dispatch, "law officers" opposed the initiative, arguing "medical marijuana would send a mixed message to children concerning drug use." Presumably, now that the measure has failed, the message is un-mixed: 'If you're dying we want you suffer excruciating pain.'

Oregon: In the blue state of Oregon, where moderate and even liberal politicians still can find a home in the Republican party, voters soundly rejected measures to limit the growth of state government, to cut taxes to the bone, and to require parental notification before abortions for teens under age 18.

Also, by a very wide margin they extended a state-sponsored discount program for prescription drugs. One ballot initiative spokeswoman commented afterwards, Oregonians care deeply about the future of the state, and they want to invest in things like education, public safety and health care."

Criminy! Imagine that! An electorate that looks beyond its own parochial pocketbook interests and cares deeply about building a sound future for later generations! No wonder Oregon is at the opposite end of the continent from Florida.

Dept. of Amplification

One that was no surprise: "Northwest Florida Congressional Wrap-up"