Democrats Sweep Virginia, Capture Kentucky Governorship

Yesterday's results, following the blue wave in 2018, augur very well for Democrats going into 2020.

Virginia, once a red state, then a purple state, is now a certifiable blue state:

Republicans awoke Wednesday to a stark new political reality in Virginia after losing majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, a sweeping defeat that solidified Democratic control over the state capital for the first time in a generation.

Depleted by President Trump’s floundering approval rating in Virginia, the Republicans’ defeat was a new low for a party that has not won a statewide race since Bob McDonnell became governor in 2009.

“If you didn’t see this coming, you’ve been living under a rock,” said Dan Scandling, who was chief of staff to former congressman Frank Wolf (R-Virginia). “Virginia has been trending this way for years. Being so close to Washington — and add in the anti-Trump phenomenon — it was only a matter of time.”

With Democrats already controlling the governor's mansion, the state’s two U.S. Senate seats, and a majority of its congressional seats, Republicans are bracing for policy changes in Richmond and the specter of Democrats redrawing legislative districts after the 2020 Census that could undermine GOP incumbents from the state house to Congress.

“The Republican Party is toast in Virginia for the next 10 years,” said [big Trump supporter] Corey Stewart, the outgoing Prince William County chair of the Board of Supervisors who was the Virginia GOP’s nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018. “Republicans will cease to be a serious political power.”  (our emphasis)

The party's most significant gains were in the fast- growing "exurbs" of Loudoun and Prince William Counties, and among swing voters like these:

“I’m not too thrilled with the direction the Republican Party is taking our country,” said David Goodwin, 41, a tech salesman who leans Democratic but often crosses party lines, after voting a straight Democratic ticket in Leesburg.

“What the last national election taught me was party doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot,” he said. “You’ve got to look at the person.”

Brandy Lloyd, 50, a tech worker, said that she, too, voted a Democratic ticket although she usually supports Republicans. “But seeing what’s happening in Washington, I think it’s time for a change,” she said.

Democrats also profited by running on a progressive agenda of stricter gun control laws, raising the minimum wage, and passing the Equal Rights Amendment.  In Virginia!  Times have changed, and Democrats are winning elections by being... Democrats.

It might not have helped that human termite Mike "Dense" Pence was in Virginia campaigning, telling the local knuckle- draggers the election would be a referendum on crime family boss Donald "The Dumb Don" Trump.  [Sad trombone]

Kentucky has a new Democratic Governor (pending a likely recount) -- Andy Beshear.  Keep in mind Kentucky was a state Trump won by 30 points in 2016:

A Democratic victory in the governor's race in Kentucky, a state President Donald Trump won by 30 percentage points in 2016, showed partisanship alone isn't enough to overcome a candidate's unpopularity -- and that Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and the national Republican infrastructure were unable to provide the last-minute boost that Bevin needed.

Bevin aligned himself with Trump and has been a vocal opponent of the impeachment inquiry into the President. Bevin had the strong backing of the President, and Trump held a rally in Lexington, Kentucky, the night before the election.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Beshear currently has 709,697 votes to Bevin's 703,899.

You remember that Nuremberg rally Trump had in Lexington Monday night, with Bevin and Kentucky Sens. "Moscow Mitch" McConnell and "Ayn" Rand Paul?  Where Trump begged the assembled assholes not to elect a Democratic Governor: 

"If you lose, they're going to say Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world. This was the greatest. You can't let that happen to me," he told Bevin at their rally.

Well, the reality- based voters did just that, so take it like the loser dog you are, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way!  (And, o.k., we'll bite:  Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world!)

It should go without saying that we can't rest on our laurels.  We have to keep that focus and energy through the next year and make sure we clean out the Republican rot at every level of government.  But let's savor this day and these important victories.

BONUS:  Democrats also did well in local races in Pennsylvania.