No matter what the current president claims, we won’t know how the electoral college shakes out until sometime Wednesday at the absolute earliest.
But while you await the fate of the republic, here’s some good, more local news to soak in from across the U.S. on Election Day.
Huge firsts for LGBTQ candidates
The Rainbow Wave is real. A record number of LGBTQ candidates were running for office at the local, state, and federal levels this year, with political action committee Victory Fund recording a, well, record-breaking 1000-plus candidates from the community. And at least seven states have significant firsts thanks to wins by LGBTQ candidates:
Drugs for some! Medicinal drugs for others!
You can read more about drug-related votes around the country in our comprehensive roundup, but here are the basics:
Oregon voted yes on Measure 110, which proposed to decriminalize possession of all drugs, shifting drug use from a legal to a public health issue in the state. Oregon also voted to legalize medicinal psilocybin.
Arizona voted to legalize possession of up to an ounce of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over, with tax revenue going to community colleges and “public safety.”
Montana, South Dakota, and New Jersey also voted to legalize weed for people 21 and over. South Dakota also voted to legalize medical marijuana the first state to legalize both in the same election.
Mississippi voted to legalize medical marijuana, with voters opting for broader medical legalization over a confusing, more restrictive option.
D.C. voted to decriminalize plant psychedelics, including psilocybin and ayahuasca there won’t be dispensaries any time soon, but it’s a step forward.
SEE ALSO: Weed watch: Results from every state voting to legalize marijuana
Mississippi gets a new flag
While the Mississippi state houses voted to 86 the Confederate-themed state flag back in July, the Magnolia State officially voted to confirm its new flag on Tuesday. Look how pretty!
This will be the new state flag of Mississippi. Voters overwhelmingly approved it. This is a great day for the state as we move forward from a divisive emblem that now rests in the past. pic.twitter.com/nZorS0tVUd
Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) November 4, 2020
Massachusetts gets the right to repair
Massachusetts passed a Right to Repair law that iFixit calls the most advanced in the world: from 2022, car manufacturers will have to share repair data with consumers and repair shops, not just dealers.
The law will cut car owners and local mechanics back in on the repair process, rather than restricting repairs to dealerships and dealership partner shops.
Florida votes for a higher minimum wage
The Sunshine State appears to have voted to (gradually) almost double the minimum wage, which is currently just $8.56 but will go up to $10 next year, with $1 increases annually until it’s at $15 in 2026. It’s a huge win for service and other minimum wage workers in Florida, and the slow increase means there won’t be immediate pressure on the businesses employing those workers.read more
Good news you might have missed from Election Day 2020
