Common sense won elections nationwide pointing the way to GOP rebirth

Instead of licking their wounds from Tuesday’s midterm shellacking at the polls, Republicans should examine their wins — and duplicate them nationwide.Yes, their wins.The “blue-nami” battered GOP candidates, but not commonsense GOP ideas.Americans approved election safeguards, tougher criminal penalties, tax restraints and protections for girls’ sports — even in Democratic strongholds.These ballot measures succeeded even in cobalt-blue areas where socialists celebrated sweeping victories.That gives Republicans a recipe for rebuilding, via relentless focus on agenda items that can attract support beyond party boundaries.In many states, citizens themselves can qualify proposals by gathering enough valid signatures — giving commonsense voters a way around opposition politicians who refuse to act on their demands.Start with election integrity: Eight states approved voter-ID or citizen-only voting measures Tuesday.Ohio elected Democrat Amy Acton governor and returned Sherrod Brown to the Senate, but also voted for a constitutional voter-ID requirement with approximately 65% support.North Carolina sent Democrat Roy Cooper to the Senate, even as 60% of its voters endorsed expanded voter-ID requirements.Nevada approved its constitutional voter-ID amendment for the second time, while Democrats won the governorship.Citizen-only voting measures passed in Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia, where support approached 80%.Election integrity is one of many 80/20 issues that resonate with voters far beyond the Republicans’ base.Public-safety proposals produced more center-right victories.Colorado approved life without parole for trafficking children for sexual servitude.Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee voted to enact stronger bail restrictions, with Tennessee’s measure garnering 67% approval.Protecting our children from predators and our neighborhoods from dangerous criminals resonates with Democrats and independents, not just Republicans.Taxp...