Hillary's Mandate

When a President is elected, they are the recipient of what is commonly called an “electoral mandate”. Barring any funny business between the Electoral College and the Popular Vote, an electoral mandate is a mandate from the citizens who voted for to perform the duties and fight for the causes they promised to do during the course of a campaign. Typically, politicians will use the idea of an electoral mandate to justify their actions in office. For example, President Obama feverishly campaign for universal healthcare when running in 2008, thus it became a major goal of his once he became President. Usually an electoral mandate is only brought up to be used against an opposing side, with those in power calling upon to say why something must be done. However, in this election cycle, that is not the only way for it to be used.

A mandate is defined as “an official order to do something”. Despite many politicians using it to justify their actions, an electoral mandate still implies a demand from the people to do what was promised.

During the primary season, the top story on the Democratic side was the battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. While Sanders lost, his supporters still cried for implementation of his more progressive ideals, which were eventually reflected in the Democratic Party platform. These promises are now not just Bernie Sanders promises, they are the promises of the Democratic Party. Therefore, they are the promises of the head figure of the party, Democratic nominee for President Hillary Clinton. 

Many Sanders supporters are still skeptical of Clinton. With the promise of the Democratic Party platform and her continued instance on fighting for progressive ideals, progressive can cast their vote for her as the best candidate for them. But the desire for progressive reform does not end once a vote is cast, and Clinton's fight for said reform cannot end should she be elected. Millions of Sanders supporters are casting their vote for Clinton, expecting her to live up to their electoral mandate. Should she not, it is unlikely they will forgot in the 4 years they would be casting their vote again.