Democrats win governor’s races in Virginia, New Jersey,
Election results a rebuke to Trump
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 hard-fought 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.
Mr. Northam rode to victory in part by tapping into voters’ regret at Mr. Trump’s victory in last year’s national election. Mr. Murphy had an easier pathway in New Jersey, where Ms. Guadagno contended with both Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Christie’s unpopularity.
Mr. Northam, a pediatric neurologist and the state’s lieutenant governor, repeatedly tried to tie Mr. 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 headinginto the race.
After the results were announced, Mr. Trump was distancing himself from Mr. Gillespie, tweeting that the Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate “worked hard but did not embrace me orwhat I stand for.”
Mr. Gillespie kept Mr. 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. They were not enough to block Mr. Northam’spath to victory.
The wins in Virginia and New Jersey are a morale boost to Democrats who so far have been unable to channel anti-Trump energy into success at the ballot box in a majorelection this year.
Mr. Murphy’s win wasn’t an unexpected one. The former banker and Democratic Party official had been leading Ms. Guadagno by double digits in the polls for most of the race.
“If I could get rid of Trump I would be even happier. I’ve never seen our state so miserable and I’ve never seen our country so miserable,” said John Holpp, an 88-year-old New Jersey voter who cast hisballot for Mr. Murphy.
In Virginia, Mr. 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. Mr. Northam banked heavily during the campaign on his near-perfect political resume and tried to cast himself as the low-key doctor with a strong southern drawl as the antidote to Mr.Trump. “We need comfort food, Ralph is comfort food,” Del. John Bell told volunteer canvassers at a rally over the weekend. A pediatric neurologist and Army doctor, Mr. Northam made health care reform a centerpiece of his political career and current campaign, winning key allies along the way. He was a leading opponent of a Republican effort to mandate ultrasounds before abortions in 2012, winning him strong support from well-funded abortion-rights groups. Mr. Northam’s victory is a blow to Republicans, who were hoping that Mr. Gillespie could provide a possible roadmap for moderate Republicans to follow in next year’smidterm elections.
A set of whoops and cheers went up at George Mason University in northern Virginia when media began calling Virginia’s governor’s racefor Mr. Northam.
The call came so early that only a few hundred people had made it to the ballroom where Democrats had gathered to celebrate. Hundreds more were still waiting in line outside the ballroom waiting to get through metal detectors.
In a Richmond banquet room where Mr. Gillespie was expected to speak, the room was less than half full when the outcome of the hard-fought race became apparent Tuesday evening.
Nationally, Democrats haven’t won any special elections for Congress this year and the next Virginia governor will have a major say in the state’s next round of redistricting, when Congressional lines are drawn.