Not every General Assembly race has been decided, according to the data displayed by the Virginia Public Access Project, but enough votes are in to conclude that the Democrats won the election. They retained their control of the state Senate and won a narrow majority in the House. Some preliminary observations:
Bye, Bye White House. Governor Glenn Youngkin can stop entertaining fantasies about running for president. Give him credit for fighting hard to win GOP control of the state legislature. But he failed. He has not cracked the code on how to turn blue states red, and, therefore, he does not create a viable alternative to Donald Trump in the GOP presidential nomination contest.
Abortion, abortion, abortion. Youngkin staked his effort to retake the General Assembly largely on a platform of banning abortion after 15 weeks (with exceptions for rape and incest). It was a more moderate plank than what we’ve seen in other red states, but it was not what most Virginians wanted. The Virginia GOP needs to decide which is more important: abortion or…. taxes, government spending, jobs, crime, parental rights, public-sector unions, salvaging K-12, reforming higher ed, and every other issue they could make progress on if Democrats didn’t have the abortion issue to beat them with.
Speaking of running on abortion… Admittedly, it’s hard to know if the electorate really opposes Younkin’s 15-week abortion platform or it opposes an imagined total ban on abortion. From my vantage point in Henrico County, Democratic candidate ads and mailers were all abortion all the time, fanning fears that Republicans would end abortion outright.
Speaking personally, I’m fine with the abortion status quo in Virginia. I don’t see the need to make restrictions any tighter, and I don’t support making them any looser. It’s one of the very few issues where I’m more aligned with Democrats than Republicans. But I’m not blind. I can see how cynically Democrats distorted Youngkin’s plank. Banning abortion after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape and incest is NOT banning abortion altogether.
Unsurprisingly, the “progressive” mouthpieces that masquerade as independent media in Virginia declined to call the Dems on the distortions.
With control of both statehouses and the fourth estate, Democrats will be able to stymie Youngkin at every turn. He’ll be playing defense for the rest of his term. If Virginia Republicans want a prayer of winning the Governor’s Mansion two years from now, they had better start recalibrating their message and tactics now. Otherwise, we might as well adopt Neil Diamond’s classic, “Song Sung Blue,” as Virginia’s official state song.
Originally published at baconsrebellion.com.
17 comments
Meanwhile, here’s a blast from thje past the illustrates the real morals of Republicans.
Remember Sarah Palin? Here’s the summary of their antics.
Sarah and Todd divorced three years ago.
Oldst son “Track” knocked up two girlfriends, married one, her parents insisted on a divorce because of his drinking. He wound up in the slammer for threatening second girl friend and deputies with rifle.
Oldest daughter Bristol two kids by two men without benefit of marriage, question as to the partenity of her third kid. Divorced from husband, a forme Marine who received teh Medal of HOnor in Afghanistan who now spends his time in local Austin TX gym. Bristol, meanwhile, with three kids, has had at least two live-in boyufriends.
Daughter Willow married, twins.
Daughter Piper (where do they get these names) now knocked up, no husband or boyfriend in sight.
Son Trig, born 2008, Down Syndrome, will never live alone, needs constant care.
Meanwhile, Sarah is shacking up with a guy 20 years her junior.
And that, folks, is today’s GOP
he Republican-dominated House of Representatives remains unable to agree even to a way forward toward funding the United States government. This is a five-alarm fire.
The continuing resolution for funding the government Congress passed in September when then–House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) couldn’t pass appropriations bills runs out on November 17. If something is not done, and done quickly, the U.S. will face a shutdown over Thanksgiving. This will not only affect family gatherings and the holiday, it will hit Black Friday—which, as the busiest shopping day of the year, is what keeps a number of businesses afloat.
The problem with funding the government is the same problem that infects much else in the country today: far-right Republicans insist that their position is the only acceptable one. Even though the majority of the country opposes their view, they refuse to compromise. They want to gut the government that regulates business, provides a basic social safety net, promotes infrastructure, and protects civil rights.
To impose their will on the majority, they don’t have to understand issues, build coalitions, or figure out compromises. All they have to do is steadfastly vote no. If they can prevent the government from accomplishing anything, they will have achieved their goal.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) perfectly illustrated how much easier it is to destroy than to build today as he objected to the promotion of military leaders, one at a time. Democrats tried to bring up each promotion of career military personnel, many of whom have served this country for decades, by introducing them by name; Tuberville had only to say “I object” to prevent the Senate from taking up those promotions.
That refusal to budge from an extreme position weakens our military. It also weakens our democracy, as was apparent today in Michigan as Republican lawmakers joined an antiabortion group in suing to overturn a 2022 amendment to the state constitution protecting abortion rights. Voters approved that amendment with 57% of the vote in a process established by the state constitution, but the plaintiffs want to stop it from taking effect, claiming that by creating a new right, it disfranchises them and prevents the legislature from making laws. They could launch their own ballot initiative to replace the amendment they don’t like, but as that seems unlikely to pass, they are instead trying to block the measure the voters have said they want.
The decision of Ohio’s voters to protect abortion rights on Tuesday has prompted a similar disdain for democracy there. The vote for that state constitutional amendment was not close—56.6% to 43.4%—but Republican legislators immediately said they would work to find ways to stop the amendment from taking effect.
North Dakota state representative Brandon Prichard was much more explicit. Opposed to the measure, he wrote, “Direct democracy should not exist…. It would be an act of courage to ignore the results of the election….” According to James Bickerton of Newsweek, Prichard has previously called for Republican-dominated states to “put into code that Jesus Christ is King and dedicate their state to Him.”
Now that refusal to compromise threatens the U.S. government itself. It has been apparent that the Republicans were unable to agree on a funding plan even among themselves. On Tuesday, as Nicole Lafond of Talking Points Memo pointed out, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Americans should just trust the Republicans. He told reporters: “I’m not going to tell you when we will bring [appropriations bills] to the floor, but it will be in time, how about that? Trust us: We’re working through the process in a way that I think that people will be proud of…. [M]any options…are on the table and we’ll be revealing what our plan is in short order.”
Today, although the House managed to vote on a series of extremist bills designed to signal to their base—lowering the salaries of government officials they dislike to $1 a year—the House Republicans had to pull the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill after extremists loaded it with antiabortion language so they could not get the votes to pass it even through the Republican side of the aisle; earlier they had to pull the bill to fund Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies.
“We’re still dealing with the same divisions we always have had,” a House Republican told Sahil Kapur, Scott Wong, and Julie Tsirkin of NBC News. “We’re ungovernable.”
And then, after pulling the bill, Speaker Johnson adjourned the House until Monday. As Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) put it this afternoon: “We are just 8 days away from a devastating government shutdown—and instead of working in a bipartisan way to keep the government open, Speaker Johnson sent Congress home early for the weekend. This is completely unacceptable.”
Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) wrote: “The training wheels fell off for [Republican] leadership this week. They tried to pass two appropriations bills. They failed twice. The government shuts down in 8 days and [the House Republican Party] HAS NO PLAN. Instead, we voted on stupid stuff today like reducing the salary of [the] W[hite] H[ouse] Press Secretary to $1.”
The problem remains what it has been since the Republican Party took control of the House in 2021: far-right extremists refuse to agree to any budget that doesn’t slash government funding of popular programs, while less extremist Republicans recognize that such cuts would gut the government and horrify all but the most extreme voters. In any case, measures loaded with extremist wish lists will not pass the Senate; this is why appropriations bills are traditionally kept clean.
It was not RINOs or MAGA factions. Just that there are more Democrat voters in this state and they voted. At least in NoVa, in the final analysis, voters voted based on their perception of the GOP on national issues which is not good. They don’t bother to discern between pragmatic candidates with ideas and proposals and Matt Gaetz and Trump. I was a candidate for State Senate and I cannot begin to tell you how nasty and intolerant and unwilling to listen were many Fairfax County voters, including people who identified themselves as Republican. I got barely more than Youngkin got in this Senate district (32 percent) despite a real hard fought campaign.
We, as a party, have allowed the neo Marxists to take over the universities and thus control the minds of generations of people. This did not just start under Obama, but goes back to the 1960s. and, the powers that be in the House and Senate caucuses, RPV and GOvernor’s Spirit of Virginia PAC failed to communicate the fact of the abortion proposal — 15 weeks impacts only 349 abortions out of 15,000. Ill never understand why they failed to communicate this except maybe they were afraid of angering the pro life groups, but that’s what the facts show. Plus, there was no sexy issue to get people to vote GOP like getting rid of the car tax, or something other than “parents rights” I can go on and on since I was in the trenches on this one.
And yet, they’re still bound and determined to nominate Trump. And then blame “them damn lib’ruls” and election fraud when they lose. Instead of, idk, maybe nominating a viable candidate. Nah, it’s easier to rant and rave.
Well, Ken ol’ boy, you know, there is something you can do: You can get with people like former Lt Gov Bolling — who is constantly raving about how Republicans need to save themselves from Trump and MAGAts — and the two of you can recruit like-minded old fashioned, Main Street Republicans to cleanse the RPV of the likes of people who write and comment here. You can take back RPV from the MAGAts, loons, wackadoodles, gunnuts, proto-Nazis, and all the other ash and trash that launched the Tea Party astroturf movement that morphed from Sarah Palin to Donald Trump.
So — get busy cleansing the RPV, return RPV to a party that is interested in governing, or, STFD and STFU.
I think also that this was an opportunity to knock out two birds with one stone. First the anti-abortion crowd, and most certainly, to throw a dart at Trump’s re-election fiasco. Trump does not help the party with the Independent vote. I’d say abortion may also send Trump packing in 2024.
In your Hebrew Bible and also the Gentile version, Genesis, is it not reasonable to say that God “legislated” that Adam and Eve not eat or touch the tree in the middle of the garden? And, did they not eat from that tree anyhow? Is that not a lesson for mankind that righteous or obedience to God cannot be successfully legislated, but, must come voluntarily from one’s love of God?
I see by the comments that nothing has changed on the loony, bizarre, MAGAt wing of the GOP.
NO, the loss was not the fault of “the RINO leadership”.
NO, the loss was not the result of fraudulent elections.
What really happened is simple: Virginia voters got a close-up view of what the Republican Party has to offer and they want nothing to do with it.
After almost four years of vile accusations of racism, pedophilia, incompetence and more, voters in Fairfax rejected the lies and returned Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Melanie Meren, Ricardy Anderson and Karl Frish to the School Board, along with a sweep of all pro-public education newcomers. Rachna Sizemore Heizer said “Today, Fairfax County resoundingly rejected the GOP’s divisive politics and relentless attacks on our schools, students and staff, and stood strong in support of public education. It has been a tough four years on the school board, but we’ve stood strong knowing the majority of Fairfax County shared our values of an excellent education in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Now on to work making our great schools even better for every child.”
Spotsylvania County, with one of the most “toxic” school boards in the Commonwealth, flipped from MAGA extremist to centrist, teacher-focused sanity. Carol Medowar, a newcomer to politics, and part of the wave that flipped the Spotsylvania school board, stated “I’m just so happy for the students, families, and educators who really get to breathe a sigh of relief for this race. It’s a huge flip on the Spotsy school board.”
In Loudoun County, the genesis of the politization of public education education, pro-public school supporters held their ground in a clear referendum on Youngkin’s plan to dismantle public schools, drive out teachers and humiliate trans-kids. The acrimony and chaos of the last four years drove every member of the prior school board out of the race. However, the new board, with all new members, will maintain a strong pro-public school majority, despite Youngkin’s concerted, last minute attempt to influence the race. According to Loudoun public school advocate Andrew Pihonek, “a brand new school board will be a breath of fresh air for many in Loudoun.”
Albermarle-Charlottesville followed the same trend as Loudoun, Fairfax and Spotsylvania, rejecting candidates who tried to re-write our history and ban books.
You insipid moron… Albemarle and Fairfax are two outposts of the bluest blue idiots in Va if not in the USSA.. Yes they reflected YOUR values…
The Spotsylvania school board is NOT NOVA . . . it’s a rural county where the school board had been taken over by the Moms for Liberty” astroturf femi-Nazi mob, which was totally rejected by county voters.
I live on the Northern Neck, which is as rural and Republican as it gets and except for one seat in one county, our school boards are normal people doing normal things. A year or so ago some dingbats from the “Northern Neck Patriots” tried to launch “Moms for Liberty” attacks on several local boards, only to be boo’ed out of the room time and again.
You have to excuse D’M John. He has a form of Tourette’s that is common around here. Just throw a bunch of words together whether they are pertinent, coherent or logical.
Got to get rid of the RINO leadership. They are undercutting the Republican Party. As long as they remain in place, more losses can be expected
That makes perfect sense. Keep banging the election fraud and RINOs are the problem drum. It sure seems to be working so far. /s Soooo, are you still willing to sink on the Trump candidacy ship?
For once you have a point Grindr boy… The GOP is cooked in VA and has been for decades. You can talk about election fraud or you can talk about whatever it is that the GOP so called RINOs talk about. Aint gonna work.
VA elected an only fans idiot or more accurately a whore… that is someone who has sex for money. The definition of prostitution under the law. I really don’t care about that either you crap for brains… The point is that you are electing an idiot like that… who won because of mah abortion!!!
Like abortion is the most critical issue ever now.. Heard of birth control? You shouldn’t be having an abortion.. but it won this stupid twat a seat…
This country is clown world… And you are one of the idiots clapping your hands in the audience… Duh duh duh Yay!!! A real whore of a politician!!!
You really need help. Start by turning off Fox, OAN, and Newsmax.
Want to know a little secret? Your girl lost. See what happens when I give you credit for being right one time? You jump right back on the dummy train.
CWS mistakes mechanism for motive — address the latter before you blame the machines! Pure delusion and denialism, photos or it didn’t happen! Na na na na — hey hey hey!
It’s all about fraudulent elections, the abortion story is just a cover! No way people are that stupid! double digit food price increases should have made this a clean sweep and it was the opposite apparently! Until drop boxes are the machines that can flip votes are removed we will remain blue forever until the death of the commonwealth.
Get True the Vote to do the same investigation that did for 2024 and see how much vote stuffing is being done!