, Columnist
Watch Out, Democrats. Virginia Is Talking to You.
How did a Republican win a governor’s race in a bright blue state? By parrying comparisons to Trump and offering a break from progressive activism.
Signs of the time.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Virginia governor’s races get outsized coverage. They take place a year after presidential elections, often making them the only big competitive contest in the country. And a lot of political reporters are based around Washington.
This time, though, the result really may be a portent. There are reasons for thinking that Republican Glenn Youngkin’s victory is bad news for Democrats nationally.