I think what it says is that when the loser of a primary turns around and does everything he can to help the primary winner win the general election, things go a lot better than if the loser is slow and grudging in his endorsement and a general PITA about the whole thing.
So there’s that. There’s also the fact that the Republican whip was drummed out of office by a Democratic Socialist. So if moderates turn around and say that only an Extreme Moderate Agenda can drive turnout, we should be skeptical of that too.
There’s always going to be internal Democratic sniping on this forum and the political blogs. But, I do think the wins last night, along with time, will help mend a lot of the 2016 wounds.
On another political blog I frequent, a couple of the Debbie Downer ‘real progressive’ types are getting smacked down pretty hard, since Virginia was a slate of solid, diverse Democratic wins from the governor down to the state assembly. Plus, there were many other Democratic wins throughout the country.
2020 will be different as there will be a large slate of candidates, allowing voters to have ‘dates’ with a couple different candidates as the primaries go on and candidates withdrawal. It’s highly unlike voters will be in the awkward position of having their hearts broken by a candidate who runs against the Democratic Party and then refuses to concede, even after it’s mathematically impossible to win. And, we sure won’t have the, ‘take it to the convention’ nonsense of 2016 Sanders
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Democrats are Democrats. We’ve been internally sniping since we were founded. In the 1850s, we were the pay off urban immigrants and southern rural slaveholders.
In the 1950s, we were the party of Adam Clayton Powell, a black socialist, and Strom Thurmond, who hated blacks and socialism.
In the 1970s, we were the party of both the old party machine and McGovern and the reformers who wanted to tip it over.
In the 1980s, we were the party of Pat Moynahan, who backed the Contras, and Ed Boland, who got a law passed banning aid to them.
And now we’re divided between Hillary, who is sort of the model of institutional neoliberalism and the Bernie people, who are rejecting both.
Fighting is what the Democrats do., and we’re stronger for it. We’re a big tent.
With hockey player teeth.
I am hoping that is the lesson on the Democratic side. Getting the not always voting Democratic voter out for midterms even if the local candidate is less than exciting or is off from the preferred positions on several items is vital to keeping the damage of Trumpism in check.
The GOP side I think will learn that a half embrace of Trump is like straddling a guillotine. And as few left will have the spine to reject him there will be those running who get his core out to vote. They are a minority and even decent turnout will result in their losing but midterms don’t always have that decent turnout.
The GOP side can only do so much though to address their side’s civil unrest … what they can and will do though is to try to feed any divisiveness on the Democratic side. Those of us who oppose Trumpism need to be able to have our fights in the primary season and afterwards we need to know what is at stake.
I had a big day at work, big event we’ve been working towards for about six weeks, but I’m around (well, going into a movie now).
I am so happy today. Not only did the Democrats sweep the statewide elections, we still have a good chance to flip the House. Not only that, but we elected the first openly gay woman and the first transgender woman and most of the change came in Prince William county (don’t live there but I do work there).
Right. A lot of very progressive Dems won yesterday. I know Bernie was a big supporter of Philadelphia’s new DA, and Elizabeth Warren’s PAC supported the abovementioned socialist, as well as the Lt Gov and numerous Delegate candidates who scored upsets.
The last thing I want to do is encourage complacency – everyone needs to keep up the good work and stay engaged-- but the message I take from this election is that what Democrats need to do to win in the current climate is to have a (D) next to their name.
Accordingly, we don’t need to listen to those who worry that progressive positions and/or non-SWM candidates will drive away moderates. Barring a major reversal, the voters are going to return us to power in 2018 and 2020. We should be advocating for policies that we believe will improve the lives of Americans in a way that will make those elections the start of a major political realignment rather than just another swing of the pendulum.
Pfft. Transgender. Who cares? The important thing is that (AFAIK) this is the first active thrash metal band member elected to major office in the US. Cite. That totally fucking rocks!
I’ve always thought hockey players are hot.
This news may only have meaning to a couple of us but :eek:.
Northam got 84% of the vote in Charlottesville (compare to other deep-blue cities like Arlington at 80% and Alexandria at 78%).
I guess folks there didn’t buy the Republican message about “good people on both sides”.
Maybe they should give it to DC.
Nothing wrong with Lynchburg other than Falwell U., which should be razed and turned into a Superfund site.
We’re pretty good at ridding the earth of toxic waste when we need to. Toxic ideas are a whole different beast!
Yeah, but razing their youth indoctrination camps should at least help for awhile. 
Well, nothing wrong that changing the name to Klanville wouldn’t fix…
I live in VA and not taking the medicaid money is partisanship over constituency. Its the main argument I have when my Republican friends try to argue for a Republican candidate. Its throwing away free money for the sake of partisan principles. There’s no excuse for that.
An update on the House of Delegates: apparently there were some late-reported votes for Tim Hugo, the Republican in HD40 to put him 115 votes ahead, and he’s been declared the winner. So it’s 49D, 48R.
However, Republicans lead the 3 races that the Dems are still contesting (and will likely demand recounts if they’ve got the funding for it):
#HD27 (Chesterfield): Del. Robinson (R) up by 124 votes.
#HD28 (F’burg): Thomas (R) up by 84.
#HD94 (Newport News): Del. Yancey (R) up by 13.
Vote counts from http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2017%20November%20General/Site/GeneralAssembly.html .