Phew. Primary season is over, finally, which means now we can really, really, really start the final countdown to the general election and also read a lot of hot takes on What It All Means.
The clearest, biggest takeaway from the primaries—Democratic ones, anyway—is that women are surging this year in a major way. This year has set records for women nominated to House, Senate, and governor, and in some cases not just set records but shattered them. The task now is to elect record numbers of women.
Democrats are energized … but that doesn't mean Republicans are staying home:
After 31 primaries had been completed by July, a Pew study found that Democratic participation came close to doubling that of 2014, rising from 7.4 million to 13.6 million. Republican turnout grew but more modestly, from 8.6 million to 10.7 million.
The Republicans who voted helped Donald Trump consolidate his hold on the Republican Party, with Trump’s endorsed candidates faring well in primaries. That means that more even than would be true in any Republican vs. Democrat election, Trump is on the ballot in November, especially in races like the one for governor of Florida where his endorsement played a major role in determining the nominee. Democratic primaries, meanwhile, involved some major upsets at several levels—but by no means a complete changing of the guard.
There are 53 days left until the general elections on November 6. There are 53 days left to win this thing.
It's time to fight. Pick a candidate and give $5. Pick 10 candidates and give you what you can. Just fight to win.