Dems sweep Virginia, N.J. races for governor

RICHMOND, Va. – Voters in Virginia and New Jersey gave Democratic gubernatorial candidates large victories Tuesday and sent a clear message of rebuke to President Donald Trump.

In Virginia’s hardfought contest, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. In New Jersey front-running Democrat Phil Murphy overcame Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to succeed unpopular GOP Gov. Chris Christie.

The wins in Virginia and New Jersey are a morale boost to Democrats who had so far been unable to channel antiTrump energy into success at the ballot box in a major election this year.

Roseann Petropoulos said her opposition to Trump led her out in the rain to cast her ballot for Murphy in New Jersey.

“Trump was huge,” she said. “Because back in the ’70s when we got civil rights for people, women’s rights, we have a chance for that to be reversed. It’s scary.”

Northam rode to victory in part by tapping into voters’ regret at Trump’s victory in last year’selection. Murphy had an easier pathway in New Jersey, where Guadagno contended with both Trump’s and Christie’s unpopularity.

Northam, the state’s lieutenant governor, repeatedly tried to tie Gillespie to the president. His victory was in large part due to a surge in anti-Trump energy since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race in Virginia, a swing-state and the only Southern state that Trump lost last year.

Gillespie kept Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the president’s supporters with hard-edge attack ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues. The strategy was criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as race baiting, but drew praise from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and others as a canny way to win a state that voted for Hillary Clinton last year.

After Tuesday’s loss though, Trump suggested that Gillespie hurt himself by not aligning himself more closely with the president.

In Virginia, Northam’s victory is another sign of the state’s shift toward a more liberal electorate. Democrats have won every statewide election since 2009 and now have won four out of the last five gubernatorial contests. Northam banked heavily during the campaign on his near-perfect political resume and tried to cast himself as the lowkey doctor with a strong southern drawl as the antidote to Trump.

Northam’s victory is a blow to Republicans, who hoped Gillespie could provide a possible roadmap for moderate Republicans to follow in next year’s midterm elections.