Six Stats That Explain the 2012 election

Here are six quick hits I got out of the election and I'll keep it brief since most people like me are probably sick of it and ready to move on:

61% - That was the percentage of the White vote needed by Romney to win the election. When exit polls showed him only at 59% and having only 28% of the Latino vote I know he was toast. The GOP can no longer be the party catering to old white men.

18 - The number of female Senators that will be present when Congress convenes next January which represents the most ever in American history and spells beginning of the end of white male privilege in this country. I also believe having more women in the upper chamber may finally break partisan gridlock since women always seem to be more likely to collaborate.

67% - The number of single, unmarried women who voted for Obama and sent a very loud message to male lawmakers: We can govern our bodies without your help thank you very much. Republican Senate losses in Indiana, Missouri, and North Dakota which were supposed to be easy wins can all be attributed to their candidates extreme views on abortion and reproductive rights.

59% - The percentage of people aged 18 to 29 who voted for Obama. Chuck Todd NBC analyst noted 'this election all comes down to three things: demographics, demographics, demographics'. I normally think about 60% of what Chuck Todd says is complete garbage but as a demographer myself he is absolutely right. As mentioned above, when you factor in the Non-White gap, gender gap, and age gap the GOP is sitting on a demographic timebomb and in about 10 to 20 years time may find themselves going the way of the Whig Party.

32 - The number of consecutive Statewide ballot losses gay marriage equality proponents accumulated up until yesterday when Maine, Maryland, Washington affirmed gay marriage while Minnesota shot down a anti-gay marriage amendment. The tide has officially turned on marriage equality and in ten years Chick Fil'A will really wish they hadn't donated all that money to virulent Anti-Gay groups.

$6 Billion - The amount of money spent by outside groups (10 to 1 in favor of the GOP) on the election. What did that money buy: Loss in Presidential election and net loss of 3 Senate seats. You don't have to be a business person to know that a horrible return on investment. It's good to know money still can't buy you elections. Though it's still probably a good idea to get a Constitutional Amendment barring corporate influence in our electoral process.