Unpacking the Election Results, November 8th, ’22

Full election results here. My thoughts:

1. The least surprising thing is that Saul Gonzales trounced Atom Von Arndt, 75% to 25%. Saul is well-known, and he knows how to turn out voters to the polls. 

2. Or maybe the least surprising thing is that Yay On A passed overwhelmingly, with 82% in favor of decriminalizing possession of marijuana, up to 4 oz.

Note that city council is way out of step with San Martians on this.  If it had been put to a city council vote, Jane Hughson, Mark Gleason, and Saul would have all wanted the amount reduced to 1-2 oz. I’m not sure 4 oz would pass at all, and 1-2 oz might have only narrowly passed.

3. Max Baker lost to Matthew Mendoza. Initially I was really shocked.

But now I understand it like so: I think the election was a referendum on Max Baker. There was most likely a huge whisper campaign against Max from a lot of people (and other councilmembers, I’m guessing). I agree with his politics, but he did lob a lot of unpleasant accusations at people and made a lot of people mad with his tactics.

Matthew Mendoza is from a well-connected family, and may have benefited from Saul’s network of voter mobilization efforts.  I’m still disappointed that we’re losing Max up on the dais, though, and I hope he stays active in politics and activism.

4. Jane Hughson handily beat John Thomaides, 63%-37%.

I didn’t expect it to be so lopsided. I wish it had been a little closer, so that she’d feel some impetus to govern a little more proactively. This is a pretty clear mandate that voters want her to keep doing what she’s been doing.

5. Finally, the Hays County Commission turned blue! This is a big deal, because they’re the ones that make contracts with private prisons like this one for $17 million over the next three years, instead of working to reduce the number of people who are sent to prison in the first place.