Third Way Statement on the Outcome of the 2014 Elections

Last night was a sad one for Third Way. A number of our friends and current and former Honorary Senate co-chairs lost their seats. We believe in and respect these Senators, and we fear that Congress and the country will be worse off with their absence in Washington. Everyone is disgusted with all of the gridlock and the failures, but the tragedy of last night’s results is that these Senators were part of the solution, not the problem.

The reasons for their losses were many. Chief among them was a feeling on the part of voters that Democrats were not offering solutions equal to the task of restoring function to a dysfunctional government, and driving economic growth and prosperity that would make their lives better or more secure.

While the results were disappointing, it was a night filled with resolve. At Third Way, we are determined to help find a path forward through the dysfunction and discord. The country can ill afford two more wasted years of gridlock, and we will be offering ideas that can work even in a time of divided government. We hope that the Senators-Elect are coming to Washington in the spirit of comity, cooperation, and progress that the majority of their voters so clearly are demanding.