Opinion: The blue wave beat Republicans, not their ideas — common sense won on the ballot

Republicans took a beating on Tuesday, but their ideas did not, Ari Hoffman argues in the New York Post. Voters approved election safeguards, tougher criminal penalties, tax limits and protections for girls' sports, even in deep-blue states.

Eight states approved voter-ID or citizen-only voting measures. Ohio elected Democrat Amy Acton governor and sent Sherrod Brown back to the Senate, yet backed a constitutional voter-ID requirement with about 65% support. North Carolina sent Roy Cooper to the Senate while 60% of its voters endorsed expanded voter ID. Citizen-only voting passed in Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia, with support near 80% in places.

On crime, Colorado approved life without parole for child sex trafficking, and Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee voted for tougher bail rules. Florida passed a major property-tax cut with about 62%, and Tennessee banned state property taxes.

Arizona voters kept boys out of girls' sports and locker rooms after Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed similar bills three years running. Nebraska wrote the protections into its constitution, and Washington state passed its own ban with more than 56%.

"Tuesday showed that traditionally conservative causes can win across party lines, even in the midst of a Republican wipeout," Hoffman writes. His advice to the GOP is to build the comeback "one district, one county, one state, one issue at a time."

Ari Hoffman hosts "The Ari Hoffman Show" on Seattle's Talk Radio 570 KVI.