It's a Rout: Democrats Lose Badly as GOP Extremists Consolidate Power In Congress and Across America

By Steven Rosenfeld

November 4, 2014 | The politics of anti-government rage, fueled by dark money negative ads emerged victorious on Tuesday, as the Republican Party won a U.S. Senate majority and re-elected right-wing governors despite Democrat and progressive organizations' determined efforts to turn out their base.

While there were some bright spots for progressives, such as minimum wage increases passing in Nebraska and Arkansas, and legalizing recreational marijuana in Oregon and in Washington DC, the national political landscape has taken a hard turn to the right. Differing Republican Party factions have been empowered in ways that will resonate well into the 2016 presidential election—from anti-regulatory corporatists taking control in Congress to union-bashing, anti- choice, anti-voting rights governors dominating their states.