We’re still absorbing yesterday’s midterm elections, which everyone–Democrats and Republicans alike–seems to agree didn’t go quite as expected. It wasn’t a great night for either party. Although it wasn’t a terrible one either. Roevember? Not so much. Red wave? Definitely not that either.
Related: PHOTOS: Cute guys show off all the cheeky places to put those “I Voted” stickers
Many of the results are still trickling in and may continue to do so for the next few days, at least. In the meantime, Here are 10 of the most wild, surprising, and exciting takeaways from last night’s midterm elections (so far)…
Lauren Boebert‘s brand of hate is in trouble
While the race has yet to be called, the pro-Trump, anti-LGBTQ QAnon congresswoman appears to be losing to her Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch, who is currently leading by just under 2% with 93% of votes counted. That said, the New York Times predicts Boebert might still will claw her way to victory, based on the areas in the district still left to report votes. But the tight race has caught everyone by surprise after she was expected to sail to reelection.
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Robert Garcia becomes the first out LGBTQ immigrant and second out Latino elected to Congress
This just in: We have a new Queerty Crush and his name is Robert Garcia. The two-term Long Beach mayor has now become the first out LGBTQ immigrant and second out Latino elected to serve in Congress. He will represent California’s 42nd district. Read more at LGBTQ Nation.
In the year 2022, Tennessee finally gets around to, wait for it, banning slavery.
…congratulations? https://t.co/sXQryR88D9
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) November 9, 2022
Tennessee voters officially banned all forms of slavery by approving a ballot measure to remove involuntary servitude as a form of punishment for people convicted of crimes. According to the Secretary of State’s office, the measure passed by 80%, which means… 20% of voters voted to keep slavery???
Lindsey Graham is feeling butthurt
Lindsey Graham sounds the sad trombone on NBC: "Definitely not a Republican wave, that is for darn sure. I was in charge of Guam, so I want to take credit for that." pic.twitter.com/qlDpRPtHxV
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 9, 2022
The anti-LGBTQ senator from South Carolina was awfully downtrodden while speaking to NBC News last night, saying the 2022 midterm elections were “definitely not a Republican wave, that’s for darn sure.” As the old saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Maura Healey is officially the nation’s first lesbian governor
The Massachusetts Democrat has become the first out lesbian governor in the country, as well as the first elected woman governor of her state, after winning against Trump-endorsed Republican Geoff Diehl. Read more at LGBTQ Nation.
Dr. Oz lost his bid for U.S. Senate and Fox News was, um, not quite sure how to handle it
“Why did Dr. Oz lose? Well, according to the exit polls, it’s because Fetterman won” pic.twitter.com/pBfYAyjDxk
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 9, 2022
Behold the dumbest thing you’ll see all day. “Why did Dr. Oz lose?” the pundit clowns at Fox & Friends asked this morning. “Well, it looks like, according to, uh, the exit polling, it’s because [Democrat John] Fetterman won.”
Everyone loves Mike Simmons of Illinois
The incumbent Illinois state senator ran unopposed and was officially elected by his constituents for the first time. Simmons served his first term after the previous occupant of his seat resigned and a committee voted for him to fill the vacancy, making him both the first person of color to represent his district and the first member of the LGBTQ community to serve in the Illinois State Senate. Read more at LGBTQ Nation.
Kari Lake might need to look for a different gig
Don't worry guys, Kari Lake already landed herself a job as a housekeeper at Mar-a-lago pic.twitter.com/XxPNGX2AIk
— Liam Nissan?????? (@theliamnissan) November 9, 2022
The results in Arizona’s gubernatorial race are still up in the air, but drag queen-hating MAGA queen Kari Lake is trailing her Democratic challenger Katie Hobbs by about 2% with 66% of the votes counted. Lake has already indicated several times that she won’t accept the results if she loses. Unfortunately, that’s not how democracy works. Now, get to vacuuming, honey!
The GOP’s litterbox candidates lose at the ballot box
At least three (possibly more) anti-LGBTQ GOP candidates who accused public schools of installing kitty litter boxes in the restrooms to accommodate students who identify as furries lost their elections. Read more at LGBTQ Nation.
Donald Trump is, once again, the absolute biggest loser
A real quote from Donald Trump about tonight’s results:
"Well, I think if they win, I should get all the credit. If they lose, I should not be blamed at all."
— Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) November 8, 2022
As votes rolled in from around the country, the ex-president sat down with NewsNation to say, in earnest, that if Republicans had a good night, the credit should go to him, but if they had a bad one, he shouldn’t be held responsible. “I think if they win, I should get all of the credit, and if they lose, I should not be blamed at all,” he said, adding: “But it will probably be just the opposite.” Trump has hinted that he will announce a 2024 run for the White House next Tuesday. He may want to rethink that plan after last night’s midterm elections results.
DCguy
The Red wave? More like a diluted pink dribble.
stanhope
More like precum and no payoff
still_onthemark
Looks like the only Red Wave will be the usual one that Lauren Boobert has every 28 days or so.
woodroad34
I was about to mention something similar.
greekboy
MEOWWW!!
abfab
Boobert can only concieve immaculately……
Kangol2
The US media were giddy about a GQP “red wave” and tried to get Americans to internalize that it would be a blow-out as opposed to the extremely close contest we witnessed last night, so all of these legacy media folks, from the print news (what remains of it) to all of the talking heads on TV should extend US voters a huge apology!
The big loser, however, is Don the Con and his rancid brand of fascist politics. His chief rival won handily in Florida, so 2024 is looking dicey for his next run. His handpicked candidates were flops in many parts of the US. His extremist Supreme Court judges’ overturning of Roe gave Democrats a boost. He also put himself in danger because his disastrous involvement in this election turned many RepubliQans off. He now needs to be indicted, convicted and jailed, and we need not hear from him ever again. Lock him up, lock him up!
Another LOSER is Elon Musk, who not only tweeted out Nazi imagery but urged Twitter users to vote for the horrible RepubliQan Party. Funny how that worked out!
williamdaw
This! All of this! Although we still have to be prepared to fight, cause it’s not over….unless there is some actual accountability for January 6th, which I’m not holding my breath for.
We stopped watching the news, other than local news for weather and traffic, just for that reason. It became so obvious that the “media” was gunning for a GQP take over….and we just weren’t having it.
daddytop
This comment is for williamdaw:
It wasn’t just some of the media preaching “RED WAVE,” it was every single Trump supporter. I noticed that they aren’t gloating anymore. They are such sore losers, much like children.
AJAnders
“I think if they win, I should get all of the credit, and if they lose, I should not be blamed at all.”
What a very Trumpian thing to say. There’s nothing this man won’t take credit for, as long as it’s positive. He’s still bragging at his daddy needs love rallies about bringing Christmas back during his administration, even though Christmas never left. I still celebrated with family and friends every year.
woodroad34
That’s a narcissist talking–because they can do no wrong. With Trump, you add in psycopothy and you get a malignant narcissist. Ron Debuttstain, although people compare him to Trump, is really just an ordinary megalomaniac: “The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.”
gregg2010
Ron DeSatin is far worse than Trump. We are doomed.
ShiningSex
No one is worse than Trump. DeSatan (isn’t that what you were shooting for) is just as vile but smart.
Trump is vile and dumb. Vile and stupid is the worst one can be.
ShiningSex
the red wave was just a Trump fart.
GayEGO
Ha ha ha! A lot of losers, especially the Trumpsters, of course Trump blames them as he does not accept losses!
inbama
Well, these are all interesting takes considering DeSantis’s use of parents’ rights and cultural issues helped him to win in a landslide and turn Florida from purple to ALL red. This has positioned him to be the leader of the Republican and run against Biden in 2024.
Abbott used the same tactic and defeated O’Rourke in Texas, the nation’s second most populist state.
Fifty years of successful gay and lesbian activism remains endangered by queer extremism.
LeBlevsez
The right wing culling continues. I see you’re down to LG now. Not even including B. How long until you jettison L?
Continue to cower in the presence of us queer extremists. It makes us giggle.
inbama
Lesbian and Gay – that’s how it started fifty years ago.
thesunpetersburg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-08-20-10.51.13.jpg
mailliw110
50 years ago we were still in high school. And you still haven’t graduated?
SDR94103
kari hate is a forking hag.
bachy
The reincarnation of Anita Bryant.
Fahd
Of course, Queerty has the election summary for bloggers and readers who don’t like to think, but Gremore.
This has to have been the opposition party’s worst election performance in modern history. I hope Tr*mp reasserts himself in the Republican party — it will help the Democrats continue their winning ways in 2024.
For now, I’m putting all of my positive energy behind Warnock for December’s runoff in Georgia.
Marco
Trump’s statement is quintessential evidence of his twisted psyche. It is antipodal to “the buck stops here” leadership ideal. What damage his absent mother and tyrannical father did to him! Merrick Garland should have no qualms about putting such a dangerous deranged person on trial.
JohnMc888
I don’t think it’s fair that all the anxiety ridden neglected Republican kids are going to have their litter boxes taken away.
abfab
LOL….that is one story that I missed. Oh the poor little pussies.
Brian
The joke about Tennessee is misplaced. They are one of the FIRST states to outlaw slavery. Also notable: nearly all of the former Union states continue to have legalized slavery, including “blue” places like New York and New Jersey.
These new bills are trying to eliminate exceptions (in state constitutions and the federal 13th amendment) that allow forced labor as a punishment for a crime. Tennessee is ahead of the game.
mailliw110
Several other states, like mine here in Oregon, just voted for the same thing. Although, I’m not totally sure what that means. Do we now give inmates a choice to work? Do we now have to pay them minimum wage, too? I guess we’ll find out! And, yes, I did vote yes on this.
daddytop
They must really be starved for live entertainment in Tennessee if they have nothing better to do than change “slavery” laws.
boblrice
Where’s JT1990 and all the other trolls who’ve been telling us how libs we’re gonna get served last night. I guess they got nothin’ to say. Which is a really great thing.
abfab
Some of them are snowshoeing their way up to Alaska to console that other idiot, Sarah Palin…
bachy
“Some of them are snowshoeing their way up to Alaska” LOL
Kangol2
Speaking of whom, remember that one horrible troll that had the multiple screen names–James Hart, etc.–that kept appearing and promising a right-wing takeover on November 9? That thing would go on about the GOP was going to win massively, how Biden was cooked (and would post his approval ratings, etc), and so forth. I guess it found enough space for all its personalities on Truth Social or some other site. But it was really super-confident about the election. It might be holed up with those top secret documents at Mar-a-Lago, trying to figure out what to do next.
greekboy
Kari Lake will never get close to mar a Lardo
at least as long as Malaria is there. This would be one cat fight I would pay to see.
abfab
That photo and caption of her Hoovering made me fall off my chair!
JeffBaker
It was a bad night for stupid. Oh, and you can bet your Bible that the GOP won’t even mention the price of gas or groceries now that the election is over.
daddytop
Why does the GOP always forget that we are a capitalist country? The government doesn’t set prices for gas or groceries. That would be socialism.