Gaining over a third of them back in one election year is a major achievement.
And it also underscores why we must continue to put in the efforts for the 2019 election year.
EVERY year in elections is now critical. In the so-called "off-years", except for maybe 1-2 US Senate or Governor races, the elections in the odd-number years are local, Local, LOCAL
While these races for small offices may look insignificant, the fact is, these positions, more than at the state or national level, affect you as a resident of your local village/town/city. These are local officials we're talking about, (mayors/supervisors, city councils, town/village boards, school/library boards, county executives, county legislators, etc.)
People who run and win in those positions often get their first taste as an elected official and use these small positions as stepping-stones for bigger positions at the state, then national levels several years from when they first started.
Which is why voting in 2019 will be equally important.
These small offices are where the political party bench of gets built.
The GOP recognized this decades ago. We Democrats must do the same.