The Coming Nightmare for Virginia Republicans

[TexasTowelie]

by HeartCooksBrain, cross posted from Daily Kos

The returns are in, and let’s recap. We’ve just won the Virginia governorship, lieutenant governorship, and attorney general’s race again. And we did it by a wide margin of 8.9 percentage points, our best gubernatorial showing since the blowout win of 1985. That’s something to celebrate. For all the concern trolling about how Democrats were too focused on urban areas, not focused enough on on urban voters, too aggressive, not aggressive enough, nationalizing the race too much, not nationalizing the race enough, and a variety of other preemptive autopsies, we beat the best Virginia Republicans had to offer. By a lot.

And in the House of Delegates, we flipped what looks to be 15-16 seats. That’s also a big deal. Even in good years, Democrats have never been able to pick off more than a few seats. So our performance this year was great. Some people may be disappointed about not flipping the chamber, but 17 seats was always the furthest of stretch goals for many reasons, not the least of which was that Virginia Democrats always considered it a two-cycle project anyway. That fact that it almost came true is astounding.

But let’s not talk about tonight. Let’s talk about the next three years. Because they won’t be pretty for Virginia Republicans. Now sure, outside of a few states where the remaining “yellow dog” strength is in the process of drying up, Republicans everywhere will not have an easy time under the Trump administration. It’s just the cyclic nature of politics. But even by those standards, Virginia Republicans have some hardships ahead, perhaps the worst of any in the country. To see why, let’s take a walk through the next three years.

2018

Let me begin by saying Tim Kaine is fairly popular, and Clinton fairly comfortably won Virginia in 2016, so even in a better environment, it wouldn’t be easy to dislodge him. Under Trump, that task is fairly daunting. But Corey Stewart? Seriously? He is the embodiment of everything that has cost Republicans Virginia in recent years, and then some. Republicans would be better off not putting anyone on the ballot and hoping Democratic turnout suffers. But blowing their small chance at knocking off Tim Kaine isn’t nearly the extent of 2018. Republicans also have to play defense in the US House.

Read more: https://bluevirginia.us/2017/11/the-coming-nightmare-for-virginia-republicans

[Alpeduez21]

1. Never underestimate the racists'

will to vote.

Corey Stewart was supposed to get crushed in the primary. He wasn't. Far from it. After the results of Tuesday I believe repukes in VA are going to be motivated.

It is very important we (democrats) don't rest on our laurels. Complacency lost the 2016 elections. Republican hate is out there. It will take a full generation of progressive policies to end them. Not electing Nixon after the civil rights bill. Not electing Reagan. or Bush. Or not electing another Bush.

Republicans are the enemy of all that is decent and good. The only good repuke is a dead one. Make no mistake, this is a war. Either your enemy surrenders or you defeat them. GET OUT THE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!! Now and forever. Never forget Trump took the oath of office. Never forget Goodlatte wanted an end to ethical oversite of congress. Never forget Gorsuch sits on the Supreme Court. Never forget how the end of the ACA was shoved down our throats. Never forget they want to take your money and redistribute it to billionaires.

If you hear thunder and see lighting and a Republican walks in dripping wet look outside and make sure it really is raining.

GET OUT THE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

[underpants]

2. Abigail Spanberger. Possible opponent for Brat next year

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029819792


VA 7th - Dave Brat's *likely* opponent in 2018 ... Abigail Spanberger

I got this information from a fast rising Dem operative my wife and I worked with on the 2012 Sen Kaine campaign. He described her simply as "impressive".
Remember - the Virginia 7th was re-gerrymandered in 2010 so Cantor could absorb the RED RED/ Teabagger areas and protect other Congressional candidates. THAT worked out well.


Grew up in the Short Pump suburb of Richmond - a "from here"
JR Tucker high school - considered the low end of western Henrico high schools
University of Virginia

She worked first with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, investigating money laundering. Then she worked for many years in Washington, D.C., California, and Europe as a CIA Operations Officer, where she says she would collect intelligence on foreign relations and submit reports for our policy makers.



Former CIA officer enters race for Brat's Congressional seat

"My top priorities would be economic security, and how that relates to education. My goal will be to have the constituents in the 7th District have job prospects and have a job that allows them to put food on the table for them and their families. But that starts with making sure they have the education necessary that when they graduate high school or technical school or university, they can have those jobs," Spanberger explained.

http://www.nbc12.com/story/35849824/former-cia-officer-enters-race-for-brats-congressional-seat