News & Commentary

November 9, 2016

Lauren Godles

Lauren Godles is a student at Harvard Law School.

Donald J. Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. In one of the biggest upsets in American political history, Trump defied the predictions of almost every major poll and eclipsed the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. Hillary Clinton, who conceded the race to her opponent via telephone early this morning, is poised to win the popular vote.

Down the ballot, all four states considering minimum wage hikes voted yes on those increases. Voters in Washington approved an initiative that will raise the minimum wage to $13.50 by 2020, and will also require paid sick leave for employees. ArizonaColorado, and Maine also voted to increase the minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020. Donald Trump has said he would support a $10 minimum wage and allow the states to determine any increases beyond that amount. However, according to the Washington Post, he has also changed his stance on this issue approximately a dozen times.

The right to work movement had mixed outcomes last night.In Alabama, voters approved an amendment that enshrined the state’s right to work status in the state constitution. Many business leaders and state representatives had come out in support of the amendment. In contrast, a similar ballot initiative in Virginia failed. Note that neither vote will affect the status quo in those right to work states; it will merely make it more difficult for Alabama to move away from right to work in the future.

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