We’ll be using this drinking game of my invention at our home watch party. The thing about toasting with shots of cocktails, as we plan to do, is that we can start with normal strength mixes, in small batches, and go on to serve still tasty, yet not as robust drinks if, say, Democrats look like they are turning it into a rout. If the returns start to look like they might rigger a dozen or more shots, then the booze to mix ratio needs to thin out around the 8th or 9th shots. The idea is to keep the party going, especially if Democrats are doing well. No one needs 16 or 20 full strength shots of any adult beverage. Then again, if D wins, and shots, start to come few and far between, FSM forbid, go ahead and mix stronger drinks, having damned good cause to drown sorrows.

Anyway, here it is: Some of this is tailored to particular local races and questions where I live in Missouri. Those local items could be easily adapted to similar local races and questions in other areas of the country.

2018 Midterm Election Democratic Partisan Drinking Game

Objectives

Have fun. Toast important milestones achieved by our candidates and issues, as the evening progresses through America's Time Zones. Get a good buzz, but remain conscious and cogent at least until the House results are reported for California.

Rules

A personal shot glass will be issued to each player. No drinking prior to the commencement of the game on Election Day. All players must either remain overnight on the premises where the game takes place, or leave the premises with safe, sober means of transportation home. Hosts must confirm such arrangements before the game begins. Drinks should be mixed drink cocktails (e.g. margarita, collins, gin or vodka tonic, screwdriver, harvey wallbanger, etc.) mixed in suitable quantities and kept refrigerated, to be dispensed by the shot as the events demand. Ample snacks should be readily at hand throughout.

1. Polls close in the time zone where watch party is taking place. 1 shot 2. Either Andrew Gillum in Florida or Stacey Abrams in Georgia is declared winner in their respective Governor race. Up to 2 shots 3. In the following races: Bruce Rauner in Illinois, Scott Walker in Wisconsin, Kris Kobach in Kansas and Chris Sununu in New Hampshire 3 of the 4 are declared the loser in their respective Governor race. 1 shot 4. At least seven winners are declared, of any of the Democratic candidates running for Governor, in any State that now has a Republican Governor. 1 shot 5. Of the following four U.S. Senators, any three are declared winners – Claire McCaskill in Missouri, Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Bill Nelson in Florida or Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota. 1 shot 6. Claire McCaskill is declared the winner for reelection to the Senate from Missouri. 1 shot 7. Of the following four U.S. Senate races, Democrats are declared winners of any three – Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona, Jacky Rosen in Nevada, Phil Bredesen in Tennessee and Beto O'Rourke in Texas. 1 shot 8. Democrats are declared winners of control of the U.S. Senate. 2 shots 9. Democrats are declared winners of control of the House of Representatives. 2 shots 10. Democrats are declared to have won a net gain of at least 40 seats in the House of Representatives. 1 shot 11. Democrats are declared to have won a net gain of at least 60 seats in the House of Representatives. 1 shot 12. Democrat Cort VanOstran is declared the winner over GOP incumbent, Ann Wagner in the Missouri 2nd Congressional District. 1 shot 13. Democrat Randy Bryce is declared the winner of GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan's seat in the Wisconsin 1st Congressional District. 1 shot 14. Polls close in California 1 shot 15. GOP incumbent under indictment Duncan Hunter is declared the loser for reelection to his House seat in the California 50th Congressional District. 1 shot 16. GOP incumbent Devon Nunes is declared the loser for reelection to his House seat in the California 22nd Congressional District. 1 shot 17. Missouri Constitutional Proposition No. 2 is declared to have been approved, legalizing medical marijuana in the state. 1 pipe hit 18. Missouri Proposition B is declared approved, escalating the state minimum wage from the current $7.65/hour, to $12/hour over 5 years and thereafter indexing to inflation. 1 shot

Wishing everyone a debauched and drunken, yet civil and with dignity and respect, election night watch party. See yall on Wednesday, sort of, if I can still see then.