Election day has finally arrived and we’ll be watching the polls closely to see which ballot measures pass and how women’s votes make an impact. Check back regularly for updates on wins, losses and runoffs!
12:26 am EST: That’s it for us tonight, more feminist news and analysis tomorrow! Thanks for all the love.
12:20 am EST: Oakland voters passed a ballot initiative that will increase the city’s minimum wage to $12.25 and ensure that workers can earn paid sick days.
12:15 am EST: A non-binding referendum question in Illinois asked voters whether state health insurance plans should cover birth control; voters overwhelmingly voted “yes.” Elsewhere, four ballot measures that will raise the minimum wage are expected to pass in Alaska, South Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska.
12:00 am EST: Thanks for the love, readers!
11:50 pm EST: It’s a tight Senate race in Virginia, but Mark Warner (D) is leading Republican Ed Gillespie.
11:48 pm EST: Joni Ernst (R) has won a Senate seat in Iowa, beating out Democrat Bruce Braley. Ernst is the state’s first-ever woman Senator.
11:45 pm EST: Muriel Bowser (D) has been elected mayor of Washington, D.C.
11:40 pm EST: Congressman Cory Gardner (R) is leading Sen. Mark Udall (D) in Colorado with 79 percent of precincts reporting.
11:38 pm EST: Democrat Kay Hagan has lost her North Carolina Senate seat to Thom Tillis (R), according to reports.
11:35 pm EST: Some good news:
Says Feminist Majority Foundation campus organizer Katie Jane Wicks:
The campaign for Measure 89, the Oregon ERA, has been big on the college campuses. Students were shocked to learn that there is nothing in the Oregon constitution that prohibits sex discrimination. It’s our futures that are at stake, and it’s inspiring to see that college students are so enthusiastic about fighting for equal rights.
11:33 pm EST: NBC is predicting that Republicans will take control of the Senate and remain in control of the House.
11:11 pm EST: A little palate cleanser: We know you can’t get enough of tiny feminist Gabriel, so here he is with Ms. senior editor Michele Kort in a #WhatAFeministLooksLike onesie! Get yours here: http://bit.ly/1tZtOMW
11:06 pm EST:
11:04 pm EST: Rhode Island has elected its first woman governor! Congratulations to Gina Raimondo (D).
11:00 pm EST:
10:54 pm EST: Republican David Perdue is projected to win a Senate seat in Georgia, beating out Michelle Nunn (D).
10:45 pm EST: North Dakota’s personhood measure, Amendment 1, is likely to be be defeated.
10:26 pm EST: Early reports suggest that Tennessee’s Amendment 1, which could strip women of their right to an abortion, has passed.
10:23 pm EST:
10:00 pm EST: Colorado’s personhood measure, Amendment 67, is losing big. Says Ellie Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation (and publisher of Ms.), “‘Personhood’ for fertilized eggs loses again!”
9:48 pm EST: Louisiana’s Senate race, between Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republican Bill Cassidy, is expected to go to a runoff.
9:47 pm EST: America’s youngest feminist, Gabriel, shows off his voter pride at the Feminist Majority Foundation/Ms. offices!
9:45 pm EST:
9:20 pm EST: Republican Greg Abbott is the predicted winner of Texas’ gubernatorial race, beating out Democrat Wendy Davis who once filibustered for 11 hours in support of reproductive rights.
9:15 pm EST: Feminist Majority Foundation campus organizers in Colorado get out the last-minute vote!
9:00 pm EST: NBC News predicts that Democratic incumbent Maggie Hassan will take the New Hampshire governor’s race.
8:45 pm EST: In very serious election news, we asked our readers to share their celebratory/not-so-celebratory election night beverage of choice:
8:39 pm EST:
8:00 pm EST: Democrat Tom Wolf is the projected winner of Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, beating out sitting governor Tom Corbett (R). Wolf, a businessman, is considered a women’s rights advocate and once explained the success of his company thusly: “My success is based on the fact that women have participated equally in the leadership of this company and have done great things to make my company successful.”
7:37 pm EST: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) has an early lead on Republican Scott Brown. Early results suggest Georgia’s Senate race— between Michelle Nunn (D) and David Perdue (R)—will go to a runoff.
7:35 pm EST:
7:30 pm EST: Democrats in Florida filed an emergency motion to extend voting hours by two hours, citing “systemic breakdowns,” but the motion was swiftly rejected. South Dakota’s results will be delayed by one hour because a polling place in Shannon County opened late.
7:00 pm EST: Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell (R) has won back his Senate seat, defeating Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. McConnell has fought relentlessly to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Opening photo courtesy of Flickr user H2Woah! licensed under Creative Commons 2.0
