Gov.-elect Ralph Northam decisively won Tuesday’s hotly contested gubernatorial election in Virginia, but not everything went quite as planned for the Democrat.
While Northam was giving his victory speech, talking about how he “received a gracious call” from his Republican opponent Ed Gillespie, his security detail yanked him off stage when protests started to get a bit rowdy.
Watch:
WATCH: Ralph Northam escorted off stage after protesters disrupt victory speech in Virginia pic.twitter.com/MLQzv5d82k
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 8, 2017
One protester yelled "Sanctuary for all," while several others carried signs that said the same.
The protests were in reference to Northam’s recent flip-flop on the issue of sanctuary cities. He once broke a tie in the state Senate to block a ban on sanctuary cities in the commonwealth, but days before the election announced he’d ban sanctuary cities in the state.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam said Wednesday that he would sign a bill to ban so-called sanctuary cities if a Virginia locality tries to become one in the future.
Republican nominee Ed Gillespie has pushed the issue of sanctuary cities to the forefront of the governor’s race. The term is loosely defined but generally understood as a locality that will not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. No Virginia city or county has tried to adopt policies to impede such cooperation.
Northam, Virginia’s sitting lieutenant governor, has insisted he opposes sanctuary cities while also accusing Gillespie of fabricating the issue for political advantage. […]
“If that bill comes to by desk ... I sure will. I’ve always been opposed to sanctuary cities. He knows that,” Northam said of Gillespie […] (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
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Northam returned to the stage and finished his speech after the protesters were removed.
He defeated Gillespie 53.7 percent to 45.1 percent.
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