Here's my thread on the 2019 election in my hometown of Kokomo, IN. Three-term Dem Mayor Greg Goodnight (2007-2019) always won by double digits but retired after becoming deeply unpopular. GOP County Commissioner Tyler Moore rode the GOP wave to defeat Democrat Abbie Smith. (1/5)
Abbie Smith served six years as the president of United Way of Howard County and ran as a progressive outsider. She defeated GOP-turned-Democrat, ex-city councilman, and ex-Police Captain Kevin Summers in the Dem primary 58-42. She was a rock star nominee in the wrong year. (2/5)
To demonstrate how bad this election was for Dems, incumbent Democratic Clerk Brenda Brunnemer-Ott was defeated by GOP challenger Diane Howard 61-39. Brunnemer-Ott had served as Clerk since *1992* (before I was born!) and usually ran uncontested. It was a total disaster. (3/5)
Democrats had controlled the mayor's office and city council since 2007, going into 2019 with a 7-2 council majority. Republicans flipped all three at-large seats and districts 1-4 to cement a 9-0 majority. All five incumbent Dems lost, who had all served 16-20 years each. (4/5)
You might note that district 1 seems a bit different from the others. It is predominantly white working class, lower turnout, and historically Democratic, but has trended hard right. Even incumbent councilman Mike Wyant, a local institution in district 1, lost by ten votes. (5/5)
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.