After a stunning upset for Republicans in Kentucky, Democrats are cheering on what’s starting to look like a Blue Wave in formerly deep red states. MSNBC Correspondent Joy Reid called it like she sees it.
This lady lost her seat by 150 votes in 2016, and just won it back 68 to 32 percent. In Kentucky. This is a wave, folks. https://t.co/RpNvhy8at6
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 21, 2018
Dem wins Kentucky state House seat in district Trump won by 49 points https://t.co/jMEMlMdISg
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) February 21, 2018
Democrat Linda Belcher edged out her Republican challenger, Rebecca Johnson, in today’s race to represent Kentucky’s House district 49, flipping the Republican seat to Democratic control by 68.45 percent to 31.55 percent, a 37 percent margin. The seat was formerly vacated by Republican Dan Johnson, who committed suicide.
The Republican loss is all the more impressive considering Trump won the 49th district by a staggering 49 points during the 2016 presidential election, 72 percent to 23 percent. In total, Democrats have swung the district by an incredible 86 percent margin.
Tonight’s victory is only the latest in a wave of stunning Democratic success stories around the country. Thus far, Democrats have unseated Republicans in a vast number of what were thought to be unwinnable races. Aside from flipping New Jersey’s and winning Virginia’s gubernatorial races, Democrats also earned a historic victory electing Doug Jones to the Alabama Senate, the first time that a Democrat has won in that state in a quarter century.