Medicaid, voting rights, unions and pot are all new realities for these U.S. states. For Washington, Tuesday’s election results portend a divided, gridlocked Congress. Red states and blue states, metropolitan areas and rural expanses have never seemed further apart politically. But across state-level races, America has not lost the capacity to surprise. An embrace of Medicaid expansion continues apace into deep-red territory, labor unions are mounting a real comeback across the Midwest, and anti-abortion activists are showing strength against political headwinds. If you’re looking for a change in the coming years, look to the states. | 
