# 2017 Virginia Gov. race: Gillespie (R) vs. Northam (D) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 14, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920 "2017-06-14T02:52:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/161 "2017-11-08T12:38:45Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I think having a political leader can wait. What shouldn’t wait is having good leadership at the level of organizing the party. Democrats need a DNC that doesn’t take sides in the primaries and instead stays neutral then works competently to support the primary winners against their Republican challengers. Democrats need a DNC that focuses on fundraising rather than trying to set party policy, instead leaving policy positions up to each individual candidate. There is also a need to have a DNC that doesn’t become part of whatever scandals the Republicans bring up. Those are some of the things that were lacking in the lead up to the 2016 election. I absolutely agree with this: the Democratic party is probably better off without a ‘leader’. Having and relying on leaders is exactly what has put the DNC in such a dire state nationally. Relying on personalities, relying on a single person or two to represent a cross section of people who don’t necessarily see eye to eye with the leader of the moment - that’s not a prescription for victory. Going back to Bernie Sanders’ movement, while I may have disagreed with some of his voters’ attitudes and behavior in the general, I welcome the movement generally for the reasons I’ve stated. Get the party focused back on issues, not personalities. When the party has personalities that act as leaders, that makes the party vulnerable because then the opposition just focuses on the flaws of that person. This is where Republicans, despite their obvious flaws, have beaten Democrats over the last 25 years. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t like their positions on these issues, but the party knows that their a fair chunk of these voters respond to the messages. The GOP has failed at times but they’ve done a better job of making campaigns about their issues vs. the Democrats’ leaders personalities. But, give the results of last night, it appears that the Democrats may have finally awoken and figured out how they can turn the tables. They don’t need personalities or leaders; they just need an organic ground-up movement and keep it basic at a certain level with some flexibility for differences within the party. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/162 "2017-11-08T12:47:01Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > they just need an organic ground-up movement I nominate [Kopi Luwak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak) for DNC leader! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/163 "2017-11-08T12:50:51Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Not just any run-of-the-mill bigot-- the bigot who literally wrote Virginia’s transgender bathroom bill! Lost to a trans woman! For a seat he’s won handily every year since Bush was president! The first Bush! Did God wake up from her 2016 nap? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/164 "2017-11-08T13:02:56Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Looks like VA might also elect its first openly trans state legislator. Props. It helped that her opponent made a much bigger deal out of her gender than she did. She barely mentioned it (in my estimation, she focused on a congested road that creates a cluster fuck every rush hour) while her opponent was obsessed with it. Its like he was counting on being able to win based on gender issues. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/165 "2017-11-08T13:07:09Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Per 538, turnout was up 16% relative to 2013, including 31% in Charlottesville. The increased turnout appears to have been almost all in heavily Democratic areas; they gave as an example one precinct that Trump won 434-83, but Gillespie won only 178-37. I agree with Adaher that it’s too early to tell now, but I would also submit that this year’s race has a different set of dynamics than the races in 2014. In 2014, it was still the same clash that existed in 2010 and 2012, with Obama against the Tea Party. Now it’s Trump and the GOP against what seems to be a developing progressive movement. The GOP begged and screamed for power and promised the moon if they got it. Well they’ve got it and haven’t accomplished shit. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/166 "2017-11-08T13:34:18Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Am I counting right? A 50/50 split in the House of Delegates? 5 seats are being recounted, but that’s the most likely scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/167 "2017-11-08T13:36:13Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Am I counting right? A 50/50 split in the House of Delegates? I think its close. Control might be determined by absentee ballots. Which means we could get the medicaid expansion. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/168 "2017-11-08T13:39:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I agree with Adaher that it’s too early to tell now, but I would also submit that this year’s race has a different set of dynamics than the races in 2014. In 2014, it was still the same clash that existed in 2010 and 2012, with Obama against the Tea Party. Now it’s Trump and the GOP against what seems to be a developing progressive movement. The GOP begged and screamed for power and promised the moon if they got it. Well they’ve got it and haven’t accomplished shit. They nominated and installed a conservative justice. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/169 "2017-11-08T13:43:12Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > They nominated and installed a conservative justice. They did, but that’s also what is going to fuel the fire behind the progressive movement. It’s not just Gorsuch they’re worried about; they’re worried about loading the federal judiciary with nominees in district courts. Conservatives probably need a bigger reason to come out to the polls than nominating a justice. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/170 "2017-11-08T13:51:04Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I think its close. Control might be determined by absentee ballots. > > Which means we could get the medicaid expansion. Senate still leans pub, so I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/171 "2017-11-08T13:51:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Where did **HurricaneDitka** go? 😉 After last night’s results, he’s been downgraded to **TropicalStorm Trestman**. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/172 "2017-11-08T13:52:04Z")
I’m trying to figure out how often the political parties have clear “leaders” other than certain incumbent presidents or - less frequently - majority leaders in the House or Senate. Rather, I think it most often that there is a short list of the most vocal and influential party leaders. A “leadership committee” as it were. And I think there is a good set of the 10 or so most prominent Dem leaders presently. I don’t keep track of such things, but in no order and not close to exhaustive I can list: Warren, Booker, Pelosi, Bernie, Franken, Durbin, Harris, Schumer… A number of others seem to arise in Presidential campaign years. I see the optimal situation expanding upon that list, and “building the bench.” Isn’t it preferable to have a political organization with several coordinated and complimentary inputs, rather than a single leader who can spur division and provide a target? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/173 "2017-11-08T14:09:47Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Senate still leans pub, so I don’t know. I hear what you are saying but the senate has never really been the driving force behind rejecting the Medicaid expansion. The outgoing speaker of the house of delegates (William Howell) was the champion of rejecting Medicaid expansion. The senate is very closely split with several state senators from districts that they will struggle to win in 2 years if tonight is any indication of days to come. I think a grand bargain can be made on Medicaid expansion coupled with tax relief. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/174 "2017-11-08T14:10:31Z")
Don’t know if it’s been mentioned but it seems that the polling was once again inaccurate at the state level. Most polls I saw did give Northam as slight edge entering the final days but they also suggested there was momentum in favor of Gillespie. As it turned out, Northam won by, what, double digits? And the House of Delegates was a disaster for the GOP, which I don’t recall being predicted. I think it’s a good thing that polls are off - it might motivate more people to show up at the polls. But if you’re running a campaign and trying to strategize those final days, it seems to be getting more difficult to do so. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/175 "2017-11-08T15:16:01Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Don’t know if it’s been mentioned but it seems that the polling was once again inaccurate at the state level. Most polls I saw did give Northam as slight edge entering the final days but they also suggested there was momentum in favor of Gillespie. As it turned out, Northam won by, what, double digits? And the House of Delegates was a disaster for the GOP, which I don’t recall being predicted. I think it’s a good thing that polls are off - it might motivate more people to show up at the polls. But if you’re running a campaign and trying to strategize those final days, it seems to be getting more difficult to do so. I think we often obsess too much over how important it is to tune one’s tactics to the polls. One thing I loved about Obama’s 2008 campaign in the primaries was that he was Steady Eddie. He had a strategy, and he stuck to it without tacking and jibing overtime some new story cam out. He set a course, trusted his judgement and sailed to victory. Candidates who are always responding to every poll really turn me off, and I don’t think I’m the only person who reacts that way. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/176 "2017-11-08T15:50:00Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I hear what you are saying but the senate has never really been the driving force behind rejecting the Medicaid expansion. The outgoing speaker of the house of delegates (William Howell) was the champion of rejecting Medicaid expansion. The senate is very closely split with several state senators from districts that they will struggle to win in 2 years if tonight is any indication of days to come. > > I think a grand bargain can be made on Medicaid expansion coupled with tax relief. You are more up to speed on this than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/177 "2017-11-08T16:21:34Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [NBC News Exit poll](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2017-election/VA) has some interesting nuggets. > 57% disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President. > > To the question “Was one reason for your vote for governor today:” > 1)To express support for Donald Trump > 17% > > 2)To express opposition to Donald Trump > **34%** > > 3)Donald Trump was not a factor > 47% I would also point out that the Trump not a factor vote was strongly biased towards Gillespie voters. So they may include people who are voting for Gillespie and trying to pretend the Trump doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![llcoolbj77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb9ed0/32.png) [@llcoolbj77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llcoolbj77)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/178 "2017-11-08T16:31:26Z")
Northam won by 20 points in Loudoun County. Loudoun County. Holy shitballs. I know our demographics are changing, but not that much. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/179 "2017-11-08T16:34:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Wait. 28% of Virginians call _themselves_…the “L” word?! Wonder what the count is outside the DC suburbs? For much of the state, a liberal is someone who thinks blacks should have civil rights too. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920/180 "2017-11-08T16:53:56Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The GOP begged and screamed for power and promised the moon if they got it. To be fair, they did keep that promise. It’s just that middle-class Americans generally don’t appreciate being mooned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-virginia-gov-race-gillespie-r-vs-northam-d/788920.md?page=10)