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MacLean Breaks Down Important State Initiatives Being Decided on Election Day

November 2, 2016

There's a lot more going on in the 2016 election than Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton.

During a Fox News appearance on Wednesday morning, Washington Free Beacon managing editor Aaron MacLean broke down some of the other important issues and races being decided on Election Day.

The Republicans recaptured control of the Senate in 2014, but they are defending far more seats than Democrats in 2016. Should Clinton win the presidency, the Democrats will only need to pick up four seats on Nov. 8, and they are looking for wins over incumbent Republicans in states like Wisconsin, Illinois, and New Hampshire, among others.

"This is unforgiving math long before Donald Trump was the nominee or either party had a nominee," MacLean said. "That is a very doable task for them."

MacLean also broke down an initiative on the ballot in Colorado aiming to create a state-wide, single-payer health care system.

"Essentially universal health care for Coloradans," he said. "It's a very bold plan. The initiative would cost more than the current operations of the state of Colorado. There would be a huge tax increase to fund it."

MacLean and Fox News host Abby Huntsman noted its similarities to the Green Mountain Care plan tried in Vermont, which fizzled out due to its exorbitant costs.

They also discussed gun control initiatives on the ballot across the country, such as in California, which has a vote on potentially banning large-capacity magazines.

"These are all looking pretty good in terms of their prospect for passing," he said.

Finally, they got to minimum wage increase initiatives, which MacLean called an "emotional issue."

"It seems like a minimum wage increase is going to help low-income voters, but of course economists will point out that when the government raises the price of labor, employers buy less of it," he said. "It's simple supply and demand ... If you see all those self-checkout lanes in grocery stores, that kind of automation, that thing is spurred by higher minimum wages."

MacLean appeared later in the morning on Fox & Friends to discuss the same issues.