After losing two consecutive statewide races, Republicans successfully flipped the Commonwealth of Virginia red on Tuesday by sweeping all three statewide contests and by retaking the House of Delegates.
The results sent shockwaves across the nation. Many pundits are perplexed and distraught over Virginia electing Republicans in a state President Joe Biden won by 10 points. Thankfully, not all of us dismissed signs pointing to a competitive contest and potential upset. And it wasn’t just Republicans who denied former Governor Terry McAuliffe a second term. Weary independents and even Biden supporters crossed-over to reject one-party rule in Richmond, as well.
The incoming administration— led by Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor-elect Winsome Sears, and Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares—promises to bring balance to the state capital. Sears and Miyares are also set to make history as the first black woman and first Hispanic, respectively, elected to top-level positions in state government. That, in itself, should be celebrated. Nevertheless, many media outlets have downplayed the significance since they belong to the “wrong” party. Shameful.
For a bunch of white supremacists—including those “damn Karens” and the majority of Hispanic voters— we, the over 1.6 million Republicans, independents, and Democrats, elected this historic ticket to office. Here’s how it happened.
Virginians Desired New Leadership, Not Terry 2.0
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Virginia always holds off-year statewide elections. According to conventional wisdom, the out-of-power party — in this case, the Republican Party— typically wins to contrast the party controlling the White House. The exception to this rule, however, came in 2013 when Terry McAuliffe narrowly edged out former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
This year, McAuliffe defied tradition by running for another term. Virginia governors are constitutionally barred from running for consecutive terms but can run in nonconsecutive ones if they choose. Nevertheless, it’s greatly frowned upon. As a result, his primary win angered members of his party, especially former Governor Doug Wilder, who worried he would sabotage their prospects.
It also didn’t help T-Mac, a New York native, that his off-putting carpetbagging ways were on full display this time—especially when contrasted with Virginia native Glenn Youngkin. Ouch.
Youngkin Ran a Locally-Focused, Positive Campaign
Voters were also fatigued by the rehashing and relitigation of the 2020 election. McAuliffe nationalizing the 2021 race and invoking former President Donald Trump to hurt Youngkin proved to be a fatal strategy.
Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen is correct: the disastrous Afghanistan pullout in August first precipitated Biden's decline in Virginia and subsequently dragged down Virginia Democrats. Another turning point in the 2021 election, unsurprisingly, came with McAuliffe’s tone deaf remarks on education when he remarked, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”
Alternatively, Youngkin traveled all over the Commonwealth to places far and wide, and often to places ignored by politicians—be it to SWVA, Hampton Roads, Piedmont, Shenandoah, and blue Northern Virginia—campaigning on kitchen table issues. He also listened to voters and pledged to repeal the grocery tax, reform education, protect right-to-work, safeguard life, and fight big government at every turn.
Due to their efforts, the winning ticket garnered the most recorded votes in state history thus far. All three candidates ran positive campaigns, boasted well-run operations, and built a true grassroots movement. Even Democrats concede they were outmatched by them.
A Referendum on Richmond’s Lurch to the Left
Getting overlooked in election analysis is how Virginia Democrats overplayed their hand down in Richmond and why Election Day was a referendum on one-party Democratic rule.
Democrats had controlled the Governor’s Mansion since 2013 and regained full control of the General Assembly by 2019—enabling them to push a far left agenda. How? Northern Virginia Democrats dictated affairs and used their newfound power to push progressive policies.
Tuesday’s results are a clear repudiation of uniparty leftist governance and a rejection of high taxation, gun control, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, unions, extreme abortion policies, and radical special interests.
And yes, education became front and center thanks to parents like Asra Nomani in Fairfax and Ian Prior in Loudoun who sounded the alarm early on.
Conclusion
As a Virginia transplant who deeply cares about this state, I’m thrilled we flipped it red. Our Commonwealth isn’t New Jersey or California, and we must ensure it stays this way.
To those seeking freer pastures: join us. We need reinforcements and you’ll love what Old Dominion has to offer. And I sincerely hope Governor-elect Youngkin sends the Lincoln Project a fruit basket.
Sic semper tyrannis.
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