RICHMOND (Virginia) — Virginia is the first major test of voters’ feelings about Joe Biden as president. A governor’s race in Virginia that was expected to be a comfortable win by Democrats is now ending in suspense.
Terry McAuliffe is a prominent figure within Democratic politics and a former governor of Virginia. He faces off against Republican rival, Glenn Youngkin. The campaign was expensive and bruising. It focused on Youngkin’s connections to Donald Trump, the future of abortion rights, and the culture war battles about schools.
However, the results could be seen as a pre-judgment of Biden. The competitive nature of the race for the governor’s seat is an indication of his political fortunes. It was held one year after he won Virginia by 10 points. Recent months have seen the White House shaken by the chaos of the withdrawal of U.S forces from Afghanistan, an often slow economic recovery in the face of the pandemic, and a legislative agenda that is at risk of being stalled on Capitol Hill.
A loss in a state which has been trending toward Democrats for over a decade would increase the fear within the party as it heads into the next year’s midterm elections when control of Congress will be at stake.
Youngkin stated that voters are making a “statement that will be heard throughout this country,” and that large crowd chanted “USA!” During his last rally Monday night, Youngkin shouted “USA!” “The future is in our hands, and the future of our country will be decided.”
McAuliffe argued that a GOP victory would reverse the progress made by his party and boost Trump’s talk of 2024. McAuliffe stated, “Folks. The stakes are enormous,” adding that Youngkin “he doesn’t know anything” about governance.
Cassandra Ogren (29), from Norfolk said that she voted for McAuliffe partly because he supports abortion rights and because she is concerned about recent restrictions in Texas.
Ogren, an esthetician, stated that she was “definitely scared” about those rights being limited for women like herself and the women who work with her in her business.
Ogren stated that she was also motivated in part by Trump’s connections to Younkin.
Joseph Gary (44), a Norfolk butcher, stated that Trump’s term has influenced his vote, especially the Jan. 6 insurrection at Washington’s Capitol.
He stated that he voted to elect McAuliffe Democrat “basically to ensure that the things that occurred while Donald Trump was President don’t happen again.”
Bennett White, 24 years old, expressed concern about McAuliffe’s education policies in Norfolk. He said that he didn’t believe parents should tell schools what to teach. Also, he said he didn’t want his next generation of leaders to view their peers through the lense of race.
White stated, “My mom is a teacher.” “I want to make sure my mom is safe in school and that everyone’s ideals are protected. We’re not brainwashing academies.
Beverly and Jason Ivey, both 48-year-olds, voted Republican at Robious Middle School, a Richmond suburb of Chesterfield County.
She is a mother to seven children and the youngest in sixth grade. You should be able to influence the school’s curriculum.
McAuliffe stated in a debate that he would not allow parents to enter schools to take out books and make their own decisions. … Youngkin used that second sentence hundreds times on TV in the campaign’s final days.
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Governor. Phil Murphy was trying to win reelection against Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican former State Assembly member. Murphy, if he is successful, would become the first Democrat to be elected as the state’s governor after 44 years. However, New Jersey has not voted Republican for President since 1988.
Many of the nation’s most important cities had their mayors at risk. A ballot question in Minneapolis could also reshape police in the city. The killing of George Floyd last January sparked sweeping protests across the country for racial justice.
The governor’s campaign in Virginia paid attention to every other race in the off-year election. This is partly because in some states, previous races have often foreshadowed voter dissatisfaction with a newly elected party.
In 2009, President Barack Obama was just beginning his first year in office. The victory of Republican Bob McDonnell in Virginia presaged a terrible midterm cycle for Democrats. They lost more than 60 House seats that year.
Some voters also stated that they wanted to send Washington a strong message on Tuesday.
Dan Maloy (a 53-year old small-business owner and Youngkin supporter) said that he would rate Biden’s performance worse than an F.
Maloy stated that “Unfortunately, all he touches has become stone,” and added that he was especially concerned about the security of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Brooke Hall-Ewell (50-year-old registered nurse from Richmond) attended McAuliffe’s last hours of the campaign and said, “It is scary to see things so closely.”
“We have a huge opportunity to take advantage of right now with Biden’s presidency,” she said, adding that she wished the Democratic-controlled Congress would move with more urgency. “I wish we could all come together as one.”
Both candidates concluded their campaigns in Virginia with rallies on Monday night. They hope that fast-growing suburbs will help them win.
Youngkin attracted a large crowd to Loudoun County. Loudoun County is home to Washington suburbs, which have become the epicenter for parent activist groups that object classroom curricula that contain instruction about institutional racism. His campaign has been dominated by his pledge to give parents more control over what is taught to their children. This could be foreshadowing similar arguments that GOP candidates will use throughout the country next year.
McAuliffe accused his opponent of using children as “pawns.”
Youngkin has been defended by the Democrat for months, casting him as an ally to Trump, who is still unpopular in some parts of Virginia. Youngkin responded delicately by trying to appeal to Trump’s most passionate supporters, without getting too close to Trump to alienate moderates.
Trump was not present at the GOP candidate’s campaign.
