Rep. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Democrat, said Tuesday that Republicans don’t have a mandate after a midterm election cycle in which they took back control of the Senate and picked up about a dozen seats in the House — pointing to low voter turnout and successful ballot initiatives on raising the minimum wage as evidence of a nuanced electorate.
Appearing on CNN’s “New Day,” Mr. Ellison was responding to comments from Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican, that the American people have spoken and President Obama can listen to them on issues like immigration.
“Well, you know, we had a 72-year low in voter turnout — 36 percent of the American public turned out [to] vote — I don’t really call that a mandate,” Mr. Ellison said. “What does Senator Lee say about the fact that in several states things that are progressive policies like increasing the minimum wage won and the Democrat didn’t?”
Mr. Ellison said he supports Mr. Obama’s taking unilateral action on immigration, something many Republicans are warning the president against.
“The fact is the electorate has a lot of complicated things that it thinks, but the fact is is that there’s no mandate here but what there is is obstruction and stymieing from Republicans and the president should move forward for the betterment of the nation,” Mr. Ellison said.
In his post-midterm news conference, Mr. Obama also alluded to low turnout at the polls in an election cycle where Republicans tried to turn many races into a referendum on the president and his policies.
“To everyone who voted, I want you to know that I hear you,” the president said. “To the two-thirds of voters who chose not to participate in the process yesterday, I hear you, too.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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