Democrats lose Virginia

[CitizenBBN]

Despite many if not most of Washington's elite and bureaucrats living in Virginia, they still apparently have lost the Governor's race. Even with Biden, Obama, Harris and others all directly campaigning for a past Governor of the state.

This is great news in the short run b/c every moderate district Democrat is now going to have serious puckering voting for big spending and the Biden agenda. They already figured they were in trouble if they did, now the know they are.

Of course education was huge in that election, but that will have big ramifications to the way Washington beltway people think.

[Catonahottinroof]

Synopsis: The Democrats ran a retread candidate who ran an orange man bad campaign against his opponent. In the end, McAuliffe couldn’t separate himself enough from the last 4 years of Ralph Northam…..and in a decidedly blue state.

[Doc]

Was no surprise to me. Also keep an eye on New Jersey Governor race as well. Ciattarelli (R) is currently up.

However the most shocking, and perhaps most illustrative is the likely loss by Socialist India Walton to Byron Brown (D) in the Buffalo Mayoral race. Walton defeated Brown in the democratic primary yet Brown appears to be on his way to victory as a write in. Walton is a full fledged socialist in the mold of Bernie and AOC, both endorsed Walton, who favors defending the police and all the other far left agenda.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/aoc-sanders-buffalo-mayor-india-walton-trails-despite-june-primary-win

[MickintheHam]

It will be interesting to see the impact the VA and NJ elections have on the Washington elite. These states are in their back yard and the results can't be ignored.

[VirginiaCat]

It has been building here in VA. The Suburbs are not happy with what is going on at the Federal Level or even in our statehouse.

To be clear. I think VA is a Center-Left State. And it is a left state in the 3/4 most populous counties. But even some of those individuals left McCauliff last night.

the new Race Theories are not playing in the suburbs. the unending government programs and spending is not playing well in the suburbs. current immigration policy is not playing well in the suburbs.

Biden is the gift that keeps on giving to the conservative movement.

[KeithKSR]

Synopsis: The Democrats ran a retread candidate who ran an orange man bad campaign against his opponent. In the end, McAuliffe couldn’t separate himself enough from the last 4 years of Ralph Northam…..and in a decidedly blue state.

The lost more than that one office. They swept the three statewide offices. https://www.politico.com/election-results/2021/virginia/

The Republicans also appear to have taken the Virginia House of Delegates. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/11/02/republicans-take-back-control-virginia-house-statewide-upset/

[bigsky]

I grew up in Chesterfield Co/Richmond. Glad to see the DC centric NoVa pajama boys get a comeuppance last night.

[Darryl]

I was reading today, many Democrats in power are saying they need to change nothing/stay the course. I totally agree; I think they need to get more radical.....

[KeithKSR]

I was reading today, many Democrats in power are saying they need to change nothing/stay the course. I totally agree; I think they need to get more radical.....

The most radical think the reason for the losses is they aren’t radical enough. The few remaining moderates know more losses are ahead.

[bigsky]

Democrats should continue to emphasize defunding police, many new creative taxes on the middle class, guaranteed national income, free abortions everywhere, abolishing private property, keeping parents out of schools, , you know, the build back better national “reset”.

[dan_bgblue]

likely loss by Socialist India Walton to Byron Brown (D) in the Buffalo Mayoral race.

Walton lost to a write in candidate. That ain't easy to do

[Catonahottinroof]

Off year elections, as a rule, never work out well for the party in control, both state or federal. This one is really stinging for the Dems though, it’s in Washington’s back yard….with a money connected candidate

[CitizenBBN]

Off year elections, as a rule, never work out well for the party in control, both state or federal. This one is really stinging for the Dems though, it’s in Washington’s back yard….with a money connected candidate

that's very true of national bi-elections, but not as consistently for state races, esp. in a state that has been increasingly blue due to the spill over of Washington DC into the state.

I think this one became a huge deal for exactly the reason you gave, that it is basically a local election for Washington DC. They rolled out all the big guns for this one and it didn't work.

I don't think state and local and off-year elections are as big an indicator as pundits think, but two caveats;

1) It doesn't matter that it is or isn't a bellweather, but it will be SEEN as one by moderate Democrats afraid of their seats, and that will make this very influential on policy in DC. In combination with Biden's poll numbers, etc. they will not be willing to along with the extreme left, and in this case they are right b/c they will get pummeled if they do.

2) This one is more indicative than most. Politics is local, but this time the local issues like education and Critical Race Theory and the role of parents in their child's lives and educations was front and center, and that social battle between the leftists who think they know best what we should learn and do and think and everyday parents who don't agree is a very real national issue that does translate to other elections.