Headline if the Democrats had won by the margin that Youngkin did,

[Sogo]

Democrat wins by narrow margin in VA Governor race.

[Lovie777]

1. And Democrats are doomed! . . .

[Marthe48]

2. Bet the Dems who lost won't be screaming stop the steal

Or the election was rigged or any other sore loser comments that the media loves to report.

[EarlG]

3. Lol

I actually happened to stumble across an old Politico article earlier about Terry McAuliffe's victory in 2013. A couple of choice excerpts:

2013

Most public polls leading up to Election Day had Democrat Terry McAuliffe coasting to victory, some by double digits, in the Virginia governor’s race. Instead he squeaked by, beating Republican Ken Cuccinelli by less than 3 percentage points. ... The much-closer-than-expected outcome blunts the narrative that this was a clean win for Democrats going into 2014.

2021

With 99 percent of the expected vote counted as of Wednesday morning, Youngkin has staked out a 2-point lead — a margin that reflects major gains for Youngkin and his party across Virginia and in other states as well ... Youngkin's victory is a foreboding sign for Democrats as they prepare to try to hold slim majorities in both the House and the Senate in the midterms.

Slightly different context because in 2013 McAuliffe became the first candidate of the incumbent president's party to win the VA governorship in 30+ years, but still...

[spooky3]

4. +1

[Sogo]

5. Thanks, EarlG.

Exactly the point!

[brooklynite]

6. Point of comparison

2012: Obama +4
2013: McAuliffe +3
Difference: -1

2020: Biden +10
2021: McAuliffe -2
Difference: -12

[rockfordfile]

8. The republican barely squeaked by in a off-off year election.

With all that's going on. It's like always get out the vote.

[blm]

7. Oy. Every time.