On Nov, 2, several important elections were held in Virginia. Split almost evenly between red and blue, this election was seen as a “bellwether” (prediction) for the national elections in 2024. These off-year elections take place two years into the most recent presidential administration and are often seen as a review of the presidency. In this case, it is a review of sorts for the Biden presidency.
The positions of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general were all hotly contested, and Republicans managed to win all three of those seats by a small margin.
Glenn Youngkin ran as a standard Trump Republican and managed to beat Democrat McAuliffe by a little over two percent in the gubernatorial election.
Republican Winsome Sears defeated challenger Hala Ayala for the position of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Sears is the first woman of color to hold this office, as well as an immigrant who moved to the United States from Jamaica when she was a child.
Republican Jason Miyares took the position of Virginia Attorney General from incumbent Mark Herring by a mere one percent. Miyares is the first Latino to serve in this position, and he has promised a stronger stance on crime.
The recent elections in Virginia coincide with record low approval ratings of President Biden, suggesting a conservative comeback after controversial policies from the Biden administration, including the Afghanistan pullout, unconstitutional lockdowns, vaccine mandates and massive spending bills. Unless Democratic leadership manages to bring their policies back from their current radical stance, this trend is likely to continue.
There are two more years before the next federal election, but given the results from the Virginia elections, Democrats might have a difficult time rebuilding their national standing.
