*** Election Night Livewire *** Virginia, New Jersey Governor Races, Battles Across America Set Tone 10 Months into Biden Era
Americans in several states across the country – particularly in Virginia and New Jersey – vote Tuesday in the biggest election since last year’s presidential election and before the upcoming midterm congressional elections in November 2022. Voters in Virginia and New Jersey are voting on who they want to be their next governors, as well as on several important down-ticket offices.
Virginia’s gubernatorial race has gotten very competitive in the final weeks, as Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin has surged in polling, riding a focus on cultural issues like standing up for parents in battles with school boards and educators. Democrat Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s former governor who is seeking a comeback as the state term limits governors to just one consecutive term, aims to keep the governor’s mansion in the Old Dominion in Democrat hands. McAuliffe handed the job off to outgoing Gov. Ralph Northam, another Democrat who has been plagued throughout his time as governor with scandals, particularly after old yearbook photos emerged of him in racist garb. While Northam originally claimed he was one of the two people in the picture – in Ku Klux Klan robes or in blackface – without specifying, he later claimed he was not either. Nonetheless, Northam held onto his job and weathered the scandal. Tuesday, voters will answer the question of whether McAuliffe can hang on for the Democrats and win back his old job or if the people of Virginia are ready to swing the pendulum back the other way after 12 years since the last GOP win statewide in the state.
Down-ticket, voters will also elect a new Lieutenant Governor and a new Attorney General in Virginia, and the majority control of the state House of Delegates is up for grabs as well.
Voters in New Jersey also will decide on whether Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy will get a second term or if Republican Jack Ciattarelli will unseat him. While polls did tighten a bit in the final weeks, Murphy is viewed as in a stronger position than McAuliffe down in Virginia.
In Ohio, a special election will again test former President Donald Trump’s strength in the rust belt as voters will elect a successor to former Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) in the 15th district. Democrats have been creeping in quietly here behind their candidate Allison Russo – President Joe Biden endorsed her in the final days – but this district has been reliably Republican. It remains to be seen if the last-second sneak attack from Democrats can flip this seat or if the GOP will hang on.
Elsewhere in America, interesting mayor’s races, ballot referenda, local elections, and more could prove particularloto y newsworthy as voters decide the fate of many major issues in Tuesday elections ahead of next year’s midterms.
Follow along here for live updates as America votes in the first regularly scheduled election since Biden took over the White House and for news and analysis about the results and trends and takeaways.
UPDATE 1:28 a.m. ET:
Here is a photo of a defeated Democrat President Joe Biden disembarking Air Force One upon his return from Europe amid crushing blows from American voters to his party:
Biden walks off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews after five days in Europe. pic.twitter.com/1AQxTobB6w
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 1:24 a.m. ET
Now, Republicans have also been projected to retake a majority in the Virginia House of Delegates–a further embarrassment for Biden and the Democrats, whose deep losses in Tuesday’s elections keep getting worse.
Chesterfield reports in-person early vote tally, which was enough to call 4 House races. We project Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) will lose her seat, giving the House GOP +6 and a 1-seat majority in the House of Delegates. https://t.co/KoLDqo0ns0 pic.twitter.com/6m4pgVc3j2
— Virginia Public Access Project (@vpapupdates) November 3, 2021
Late-breaking votes pouring in in Chesterfield County seems to have pushed the GOP into the majority, another crushing blow to the Democrat Party:
Breaking: GOP now appears to win #HD63, a seat that was previously on track to stay Dem before Chesterfield just reported in-person early votes (VBM still to come). This could give Republicans an outright majority in the #VAHoD by a single seat. https://t.co/dTKcQiSqJX
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
So Republicans swept all three statewide races in the Old Dominion state, and now they have taken the House of Delegates in the state legislature as well.
UPDATE 1:19 a.m. ET
With Youngkin still giving his victory speech, Democrat President Joe Biden–whose agenda and party have been rejected heavily by voters coast to coast on Tuesday night–touched back down at Joint Base Andrews after a several day trip in Europe for a meeting with Pope Francis and a climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Biden did not give any comments or remarks after American voters defenestrated his party at the polls on Tuesday. It remains to be seen what happens next for the president and his agenda–which is clogged in a congested Congress.
UPDATE 1:16 a.m. ET
GOP Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin took the stage before supporters at his election night victory party to Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky, a staple song from his campaign rallies.
“My fellow Virginians, we stand here this morning at this defining moment–a defining moment that yes started with two people on a walk and is a defining moment that is now millions of Virginians walking together,” Youngkin said…. “Together, we will change the trajectory of this Commonwealth. Friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one. There is no time to waste. Our kids can’t wait. We work in real people time, not government time. On day one, we’re going to work. We’re going to restore excellence in our schools.”
Youngkin laid out a series of education reforms he intends to implement across the board from the outset, including school choice. “We’re going to press forward with a curriculum that includes parents’ input,” Youngkin said, referring to his opponents Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s serious gaffe undercutting parents. “We are going reestablish excellence in our schools. We are fighting for parents and teachers and students in our schools.”
McAuliffe also pledge tax cuts, and regulation rollbacks to help veterans–and pledged public safety measures as well.
“On day one, we’re going to jumpstart our jobs and reinvigorate this economy,” Youngkin said.
“Virginia will be open for business,” he added. “It’s time for Virginia to be the place where everyone wants to live not leave.”
“We will not be a Commonwealth of low expectations, we will be a Commonwealth of high expectations,” Youngkin said, noting that his campaign has become a “movement” and that the “spirit of Virginia has come together like never before” also naming several of the Founding Fathers from Virginia like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
UPDATE 1:04 a.m. ET
Suzanne Youngkin, Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin’s wife, spoke to the crowd to introduce her husband. During her remarks, the next First Lady of Virginia laid out the story of when her husband told her he intended to run for governor–and what kind of man he is and leader he will be.
UPDATE 12:59 a.m. ET
Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor-elect Winsome Sears, the first black woman ever elected statewide in Virginia–and a Republican–spoke to supporters at Youngkin headquarters on Wednesday night to celebrate her victory.
“I’m at a loss for words at the first time in my life,” she said.
“I’m here because of you,” she said…. “That’s the only reason I’m here.”
Sears, a rising GOP star, earned huge cheers from the crowd. “I’m telling you what you are looking at is the American dream,” she said after introducing her husband.
Sears told the story of her father moving from Jamaica at the “height of the Civil Rights movement” to the United States to pursue the American dream. “Then he came and got me when I was six years old,” she said, noting when she got to the U.S. “I landed in a new world.”
Sears, who along with her husband served in the U.S. Marine Corps, noted she signed up when she was still a Jamaican and not even an American citizen yet. “I was willing to die for this country,” she said.
Sears also bashed leftists for race-baiting, noting that the United States has come a long way since the Civil Rights movement despite what Democrats would have the public believe. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m black and I’ve been black all my life,” she said.
Sears focused as well on education in her speech. “Education will lift us all out of poverty,” she said, noting that solid educational opportunities will “create generational wealth.”
“It’s a historic night but I didn’t run to make history–I just wanted to leave it better than I found it,” Sears said…. “Hold on, Virginia, help is on the way–the cavalry has arrived.”
UPDATE 12:48 a.m. ET
Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s whereabouts are unknown, and it is unclear if he will accept defeat and concede the race now that it has been confirmed by all major networks he lost the election for governor in Virginia. He did previously say he would accept the results of the election, but he also has hired Marc Elias–a Democrat attorney known for election law battles–in recent weeks. So it remains to be seen if McAuliffe will concede or challenge the results of the election.
Youngkin is expected to speak momentarily to celebrate his victory.
UPDATE 12:40 a.m. ET
Fox News has finally, after literally everyone else, called the Virginia governor’s race for GOP Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin. The embarrassing amount of time Fox News took to call the race all night cuts further into the network’s credibility issues after its problems in the 2020 presidential election as well. But the cable channel finally joined NBC, ABC, CNN, and even Politico–which called it before Fox News–in calling the race.
UPDATE 12:38 a.m. ET
Republican Jack Ciattarelli is giving remarks in Bridgewater Township in New Jersey projecting far more confidence he will be the eventual winner than Murphy had moments earlier. The New Jersey governor race, he says, will take time over the next “week or so” but is confident he will be able to “certify this win” soon.
UPDATE 12:32 a.m. ET
Democrat incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey finally spoke long after midnight, while he still trails Republican Jack Ciattarelli in results with north of 75 percent reporting. In his remarks, he did not declare victory or concede defeat, but did project much more confidence than his Democrat counterpart Terry McAuliffe down in Virginia did earlier in the evening.
UPDATE 12:30 a.m. ET
CNN, ABC News and NBC News have finally projected that Republican Glenn Youngkin will win the Virginia governor’s race.
Based on analysis of the vote, ABC News projects that the Republican Youngkin will win the Virginia Governor race.
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) November 3, 2021
Fox News, embarrassingly, still has not called the race for Youngkin.
UPDATE 12:04 a.m. ET:
Democrats’ woes are spreading everywhere in America, as even in Seattle a Republican is surprisingly strong in a local race:
A Republican is winning in Seattle. That’s the tweet. https://t.co/Jaj01lSfqG
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 12:02 a.m. ET:
Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin, per exit polling, seems to have won Hispanic voters by a large margin:
🚨🚨 Exit poll shows Republican @GlennYoungkin *WON* Hispanic voters in Virginia by 9 points, 54% to 45%.
Again, GREAT work by the @GOP in #Virginia. This is what a national majority party coalition looks like! pic.twitter.com/9Zm3S9MkuU
— Giancarlo Sopo (@GiancarloSopo) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 11:38 p.m. ET:
Boston elects Democrat Michelle Wu as its new mayor:
Boston voters for the first time elected a woman and an Asian American as mayor on Tuesday, tapping City Councilor Michelle Wu to serve in the city’s top political office. https://t.co/sXzc0EzZjd
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 11:29 p.m. ET:
New Jersey’s governor’s race continues to be close, and Republican Jack Ciattarelli’s lead continues to hold with more and more reporting:
NJ GOV. RACE WITH 71% REPORTING:
Ciattarelli (R): 52% • (773,248 votes)
Murphy (D): 47% • (704,254 votes)
Via @DecisionDeskHQ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 11:27 p.m. ET:
Democrat Eric Adams has won the mayor’s race in New York City, and Republican Curtis Sliwa conceded the race and pledged his support to the incoming Adams administration.
UPDATE 11:19 p.m. ET:
This red wave nationwide is freaking out Democrats, especially those close to President Joe Biden. The New York Times’s Blake Hounshell reports that voices around Biden warning him to avoid the left are only going to get louder.
Some in Biden-land are already asking themselves if the president has allowed himself to be tugged too far to the left while in office, and those voices are likely to get louder now.
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 11:14 p.m. ET:
Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report projects that the Democrats will lose their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates as well. Republicans might not, however, do better than a 50-50 tie with the Democrats, which could gridlock the chamber:
Breaking: pending late-arriving mail ballots, provisionals & possible recounts, Republicans pick up five seats in the Virginia House of Delegates for a 50D-50R tie. There is no tie-breaking provision for control of the chamber. #VAHOD
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 11:01 p.m. ET:
Despite the fact that McAuliffe refuses to concede his election loss at this stage, nobody is left at his election night “party” according to Fox News. Before she went off the air, Laura Ingraham showed images of a completely emptied out ballroom in Virginia for the former Democrat governor.
UPDATE 10:59 p.m. ET:
Things are getting “tense” at Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy’s New Jersey headquarters:
Update from the Phil Murphy election night party. https://t.co/5rFLzVjXPN
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 10:57 p.m. ET:
The left has just been crushed everywhere tonight, in Buffalo, New York now the incumbent mayor Byron Brown just declared victory in his historic write-in campaign against a devout socialist:
Bryon Brown declares victory against India Walton in a landslide victory as a write in candidate. Even though the election is still technically ongoing, it’s all but over. Buffalo has re-elected Mayor Byron Brown. #ElectionDay #BuffaloMayoralRace
— Robin Williams (@FrankieTripi716) November 3, 2021
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis the loss for the left cannot be understated according to GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel:
The Democrats and the socialist Squad wanted to abolish the Minneapolis police department.
Minneapolis voters resoundingly said “NO.”
Americans don’t support the Democrats defund-the-police agenda!
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 3, 2021
AP: Minneapolis defund the police referendum *fails* in deep blue city.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) November 3, 2021
Deep-blue Minneapolis just voted resoundingly NOT to defund the police.
Democrats should probably reflect on this, but we all know they won’t. 2022 is going to be fun. https://t.co/L312kBWOvv
— Gates McGavick (@GatesMcgavick) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 10:51 p.m. ET:
The New Jersey governor’s race still has Republican Jack Ciattarelli leading with 60 percent of the vote in, and Republicans are cleaning up elsewhere in New Jersey too:
Beth Bline upsets Jeremy Blake in the 2nd Ward, giving Republicans a 10-0 majority on Newark City Council. #nanow
— Kent Mallett (@kmallett1958) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 10:40 p.m. ET:
James Pinkerton has this article on five key takeaways from Youngkin’s victory in Virginia. In it, he suggests that 2022 is likely going to be a “landslide” win for Republicans in the midterm elections. Read the whole thing.
UPDATE 10:31 p.m. ET:
Republican Jack Ciattarelli continues to lead incumbent Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy in New Jersey, even with 52 percent of the vote in according to the New York Times. Ciattarelli’s 50.9 percent is more than 35,000 votes more than 48.3 percent. This is a shocking development, and it’s unclear if the GOP will hold this lead, but the fact it is at this point at this stage is debilitating for Democrats.
UPDATE 10:24 p.m. ET:
McAuliffe, speaking at an event in McLean, Virginia, does not appear to be conceding the election to Youngkin at this stage. He got up and spoke to supporters for just a few minutes and thanked his family, but did not concede the election.
UPDATE 10:06 p.m. ET:
Democrats and leftists lose yet again, this time in Minneapolis, as voters resoundingly rejected a ballot measure that would have replaced the Minneapolis Police Department with a “department of public safety.”
And it’s over. One of the left’s biggest losses tonight https://t.co/gtEs82RoOi
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) November 3, 2021
This is yet another huge loss for the radical left, as the people of the city in which George Floyd was killed just voted to stand by their local police department–a sharp turn against the left after riots all summer last year.
It is also an embarrassing loss for Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a radical leftist socialist and “Squad” member, because she vocally endorsed voting for this ballot measure–which the people of Minneapolis just voted down.
UPDATE 9:58 p.m. ET:
Even though the networks–including Fox News–and AP still continue to refuse to formally call the race in Virginia for Youngkin, McAuliffe’s headquarters is reportedly growing increasingly depressing:
Update: The TVs are back on at McAuliffe HQ, but the sound remains down as the music grows louder. A noticeable number of people are now leaving the ballroom, even as others mill about. https://t.co/qFaHFPVq6u
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:52 p.m. ET:
White women powered Youngkin’s victory in Virginia, per statistics some in establishment media are circulating.
Virginia 2020 —> White women
50% Biden (D), 49% Trump (R)Virginia 2021 —> White women
57% Youngkin (R), 43% McAuliffe (D)A 15-point swing to the GOP with this group.
(via @NBCNews Exit Polls)
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) November 3, 2021
Group that helped Trump win in 2016 https://t.co/AwOV7P2qwA
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 3, 2021
UPDATE: 9:49 p.m. ET:
New Jersey’s governor’s race is shockingly close, as Republican Jack Ciattarelli has taken a lead over incumbent Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy with 32 percent reporting according to the New York Times. Ciattarelli, with 50.5 percent, leads Murphy’s 48.7 percent. If Ciattarelli pulls off a victory in New Jersey it would be even bigger of a shock than Youngkin’s victory in Virginia. The fact this is even close at this stage is devastating for Democrats.
UPDATE 9:42 p.m. ET:
Democrats should be very worried about these results nationwide tonight, Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report says, warning that they could lose their majorities in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate as a result of this shift in the political environment next year:
Needless to say, tonight’s results are consistent w/ a political environment in which Republicans would comfortably take back both the House and Senate in 2022.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:38 p.m. ET:
Republican Mike Carey, Trump’s pick in Ohio’s 15th district in the special election, has officially won, per NBC News–another crushing blow to Biden:
NEW: Republican Mike Carey wins special election for House seat in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, @NBCNews projects. https://t.co/DN8wPqa80o pic.twitter.com/h7x2kzElqI
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 3, 2021
Meanwhile, former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus just called Virginia’s GOP governor-elect Glenn Youngkin a “happy warrior” during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s program on the Fox News Channel. Priebus’s use of that phrase, which was commonly used to describe Breitbart News founder Andrew Breitbart, is interesting–and accurate. Youngkin had appeared on Breitbart News radio multiple times throughout the year in the lead-up to his victory, including most recently this Saturday.
UPDATE: 9:35 p.m. ET:
Looks like Virginia represents a “red wave” statewide, with almost everywhere shifting to the right:
Red wave: 58 of 59 localities that have reported all precincts have shifted to the right compared to 2017. Emporia City down on the NC line for now is solo on the blue wave. https://t.co/9ZUqiZNddt pic.twitter.com/KiHkNl8Zm3
— Virginia Public Access Project (@vpapupdates) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:32 p.m. ET:
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is thanking Virginia for electing Youngkin:
God bless Virginia.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) November 3, 2021
And MSNBC is in meltdown:
MSNBC in full meltdown mode. pic.twitter.com/MtBKJjYxC0
— Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:30 p.m. ET:
McAuliffe surrogates who were scheduled to appear on MSNBC have bailed on their hits:
.@chucktodd just said that McAuliffe surrogates that were supposed to appear on the show tonight have bailed.
😂😂😂
— Chris Hartline (@ChrisHartline) November 3, 2021
Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has congratulated Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin on his victory:
🚨HUGE REPUBLICAN WIN 🚨
Congratulations to the next governor of Virginia, @GlennYoungkin!
Commonsense Republican leadership is back in the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/iIbUyCA1hO
— GOP (@GOP) November 3, 2021
Meanwhile, MSNBC admits what is really happening:
“It’s a bloodbath.” — McAuliffe staffer to Larry Sabato on MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/fL3lus9avl
— Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:27 p.m. ET:
It appears Republican Mike Carey is cruising to victory in Ohio’s 15th congressional district’s special election as well, another crushing blow to Biden on Tuesday night as the Democrat president had just endorsed Carey’s Democrat opponent this week in the lead-up to the election. Stefanik, the House GOP conference chairwoman, has congratulated Carey on his victory already:
Congratulations to @MikeCareyOH15 on his landslide victory tonight! #OH15 elected a proven America First Patriot.
I was proud to join President Trump in endorsing Mike in his primary, and I look forward to working with Mike in Congress to make America more prosperous and free. pic.twitter.com/LGN7g4C3J5
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:10 p.m. ET:
Former President Donald Trump congratulated Youngkin on his victory tonight too, saying “Glenn will be a great governor.”
45: I would like to thank my BASE for coming out in force and voting for Glenn Youngkin. Without you, he would not have been close to winning. The MAGA movement is bigger and stronger than ever before. Glenn will be a great governor. pic.twitter.com/OfebOOIUoO
— Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) November 3, 2021
More Republicans are congratulating him too, even though several networks including Fox News still refuse to call the race:
I’m calling it too, Virginia for Youngkin!
Also, Go #Braves.
5 Takeaways from Virginia Tonight:
1️⃣ Virginia has rejected Biden’s radical agenda.
2️⃣ The Democrats ‘Trump Card’ against Youngkin didn’t work.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 3, 2021
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Governor-Elect @GlennYoungkin on the big big big Virginia win tonight!
❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:05 p.m. ET:
Republican Governors Association (RGA) chairman Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) congratulated Governor-Elect Youngkin on his victory in Virginia:
“The RGA is thrilled to congratulate Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin on winning a hard-fought race that many wrote off as unwinnable for Republicans,” Ducey said in a statement. “Glenn ran an excellent and inspiring campaign that raises the bar for candidates across the country. Unlike his opponent, Glenn didn’t need a cast of national surrogates to do his work for him; he connected directly with voters on issues that matter to Virginians. The RGA is honored to have worked with Glenn throughout the general election and we look forward to welcoming him to our ranks as Virginia’s next governor.”
RGA executive director Dave Rexrode added his congratulations as well.
“We are proud to have partnered with the Youngkin campaign over the last several months, working closely to execute an effective plan to win in a state Joe Biden carried by 10 points a year ago,” Rexrode said. “Together, we were able to define the race on our terms and provide the resources needed for all voters to hear Glenn’s vision for a safer, more prosperous Commonwealth. We are excited to have Governor-Elect Youngkin as our 28th Republican Governor.”
UPDATE 9:03 p.m. ET:
Congratulations continue to roll in for Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin:
Congratulations to governor-elect Glenn Youngkin!
Dems should take notice. We’re just getting started.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) November 3, 2021
Meanwhile, Democrats are infighting incessantly and bizarrely already:
Was just sent an “embargoed statement” on McAuliffe’s loss “for if/When McAuliffe loses”
Haven’t quite seen anything like this before. there’s no guidance at all for when the group believes there is an official call.
But I guess we have Wasserman. So…
The group’s PCCC
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 3, 2021
here’s what they say
“Democrats won’t win simply by branding one opponent after another as a Trump clone, and then hoping to squeak out a razor-thin win.”
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 9:01 p.m. ET:
Republican Winsome Sears has won the Lieutenant Governor’s race in Virginia, becoming the first black woman ever elected statewide in the Old Dominion’s history:
CALL: Republican Winsome Sears has defeated Democrat Hala Ayala in the race for Lieutenant Governor. GOP STATEWIDE SWEEP – FLIP ALL THREE OFFICEShttps://t.co/oVum81IDLv pic.twitter.com/bBraqW7anR
— Chaz Nuttycombe (@ChazNuttycombe) November 3, 2021
HUGE UPSET: Republican @WinsomeSears has been elected Virginia’s next lieutenant governor!
She was outspent 2:1 but overcame all odds and will be the first woman to hold the office in VA!
Congrats, Winsome! pic.twitter.com/Mfb1EYtmgk
— Republican State Leadership Committee (@RSLC) November 3, 2021
I’ve seen enough: Winsome Sears (R) defeats Hala Ayala (D) in the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:47 p.m. ET:
Donald Trump Jr. spokesman Andy Surabian has termed the red wave crashing across America on Tuesday night “the great wokelash”
The great wokelash is upon us https://t.co/10egC3Q4uE
— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) November 3, 2021
Trump Jr. himself is also ripping Biden as the results keep pouring in crushing Democrats on Tuesday night:
When Biden wakes up tomorrow afternoon, somebody’s gonna have to tell him he’s now officially presiding over the collapse of the Democrat party
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:44 p.m. ET:
Decision Desk HQ has also called the race for Youngkin:
BREAKING: @DecisionDeskHQ predicts Glenn Youngkin (R) will defeat Terry McAuliffe (D) in the Virginia governor race. #VAGOV
— Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) November 3, 2021
Republicans have also won the attorney general race in Virginia:
CALL: Republican Jason Miyares has defeated incumbent Democrat Attorney General Mark Herring in the AG race. FLIPhttps://t.co/oVum81IDLv pic.twitter.com/6hCdB2JN9M
— Chaz Nuttycombe (@ChazNuttycombe) November 3, 2021
And the GOP has flipped several House of Delegates seats from Democrat control:
CALL: Republican Tim Anderson has defeated incumbent Democrat Nancy Guy in HD-83. 3rd flip of the night to the GOPhttps://t.co/oVum81IDLv pic.twitter.com/bNQEOzdmXa
— Chaz Nuttycombe (@ChazNuttycombe) November 3, 2021
CALL: Republican Otto Waschmann has defeated Democrat Roz Tyler [I] in HD-75. First flip of the night to the Republicanshttps://t.co/oVum81IDLv pic.twitter.com/x7eUeTKJRZ
— Chaz Nuttycombe (@ChazNuttycombe) November 3, 2021
CALL: Republican Jason Ballard has defeated Democrat Chris Hurst [I] in HD-12. The second flip of the night to the Republicanshttps://t.co/oVum81IDLv pic.twitter.com/G7WMGhW40N
— Chaz Nuttycombe (@ChazNuttycombe) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:41 p.m. ET:
Ashley Oliver sends along this update from Youngkin campaign HQ on Tuesday evening:
Enthusiasm is high at the Marriott in Chantilly as results continue to appear increasingly favorable toward Youngkin. Hundreds of supporters are buzzing around, and a Youngkin staffer said, “Feeling good!” while they continue to await a final call.
UPDATE 8:38 p.m. ET:
Congratulations are rolling in for Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, with House GOP Conference chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wishing him well after his victory Tuesday night in Virginia. Stefanik issued this statement after Youngkin’s victory on Tuesday night:
“Congratulations to Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin on his historic and electrifying victory tonight. Not only is this a win for the Commonwealth, but this is also a win for America.
Hardworking Americans are fed up with failed, Far-Left politicians who are destroying our economy with Socialist tax-and-spend policies and infiltrating our classrooms with their radical agenda.
Republicans, Independents, and Democrats undeniably united behind Youngkin’s message to support parents’ rights and reject dangerous tax hikes, and this is the same winning message that will propel Republicans to win the House majority next November.
Glenn Youngkin kicked off the 2022 Red Wave early, and Republicans are now more energized than ever to take back the House and fire Lame Duck Speaker Nancy Pelosi once and for all.”
UPDATE 8:31 p.m. ET:
A huge night for Republicans nationwide as the GOP has now also flipped the mayor’s office in Rochester, New Hampshire, as well.
Congratulations to Mayor-Elect Paul Callaghan on of his resounding victory tonight, with 66% of the vote ‼️🇺🇸#NHPolitics pic.twitter.com/nPUKOuK9Vf
— New Hampshire Republican Party (@NHGOP) November 2, 2021
Unofficial total from Rochester has Republican Callaghan winning big over Palana Hunt-Hawkins, 2,674-1,339 #NHPolitics #WMUR
— John DiStaso (@jdistaso) November 2, 2021
There are other races like this across America that Republicans are watching closely too. But with Virginia and now New Hampshire flips, this Election Day is shaping up as a very bad night for Democrats and for President Joe Biden.
UPDATE 8:28 p.m. ET:
Dave Wasserman from the Cook Political Report calls it for Youngkin:
I’ve seen enough: Glenn Youngkin (R) defeats Terry McAuliffe (D) in the Virginia governor’s race. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:20 p.m. ET:
The Times’s Cohn says that Youngkin is the heavy favorite to win now in Virginia:
Update at over 1300 precincts: Youngkin continues to be on track, running ahead of what he needs–even if only modestly–by just about any measure.
He’s a very big favorite at this point; needle might be getting into that 90% range if it was on the internet— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 3, 2021
UPDATE: 8:18 p.m. ET:
Youngkin keeps over performing in counties he wins, and McAuliffe keeps underperforming in counties he wins:
Danville (Southside VA): McAuliffe needed to win it by 10%, per my benchmarks. McAuliffe wins it by only 7%. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
Culpeper: Youngkin needed to win it by 30%, per my benchmarks. He wins it by 34%. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
Youngkin seems to be over performing in Loudoun County, too:
Loudoun Co.: McAuliffe lead up to 55%-44% w/ mail ballots now reporting. Per my benchmarks, McAuliffe needed to win it by 14%. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE: 8:14 p.m. ET:
Unsurprising, but it’s official now: Democrat Shontel Brown has won the special election in Ohio’s 11th congressional district to succeed former Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)–who is now Biden’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary:
BREAKING: Democrat Shontel Brown wins election to U.S. House in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. #APracecall at 7:53 p.m. EDT. #Election2021 #OHelection
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 8:10 p.m. ET:
Youngkin keeps rolling, and just pulled off a surprise big victory in Radford, Virginia:
Radford (college town in SWVA): McAuliffe needed to win it by 0.3%, per my benchmarks. Youngkin wins it by 9%. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:06 p.m. ET:
Youngkin seems to have the edge but it’s still early:
Loudoun Co.: up to 128k votes counted, and McAuliffe winning there by just 53%-47%. McAuliffe better hope for a huge showing in the remaining VBM, but Youngkin performed *much* better than I expected w/ the early vote. Advantage: Youngkin. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 3, 2021
Right now, I’d rather be Youngkin (R). But we’ve still got a long way to go. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
Northumberland Co. (Northern Neck, rural): Youngkin needed to win it by 26%, per my benchmarks. He wins it by 29%, w/ higher than expected turnout. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
Youngkin continues to have the advantage, now with over 1000 precincts counted.
It’s close. Maybe Youngkin’s favored to win by 2 points. But there really any bright spots for McAuliffe at the moment. pic.twitter.com/va5Zu0v34n— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 3, 2021
UPDATE 8:03 p.m. ET:
The polls have closed now in New Jersey and results are expected there imminently.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Fairfax County’s issues because of a reported need to rescan ballots have everyone in the state on edge:
@TerryMcAuliffe’s campaign says Fairfax County will not meet their self-imposed deadline of 8pm to count early votes. Meanwhile, the campaign says they’re encouraged by voter turnout in Falls Church and Prince William, which apparently have surpassed 2017 totals. @8NEWS
— Jackie DeFusco (@Jackie8News) November 2, 2021
NEW INFO: @TerryMcAuliffe’s campaign says a portion of the early votes in Fairfax County need to be rescanned and there is no set timeline for that yet. His staff says that could delay the results.
— Jackie DeFusco (@Jackie8News) November 2, 2021
McAuliffe’s camp says Fairfax County is delayed in reporting their vote count and we won’t know until after 8pm. Fairfax is Virginia’s most populated county.
— Julia Manchester (@JuliaManch) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:59 p.m. ET:
McAuliffe, who is not at an election night event but watching results from his home with his family, issued this statement to supporters:
.@TerryMcAuliffe is watching results from his home tonight with his family. He sends a note to supporters, saying: “When the results of this election come in — win or lose — we can rest assured that we did everything we can to create the future that we want.”
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:53 p.m. ET:
With 33 percent reporting according to the New York Times, Youngkin still has a huge lead of 54.1 percent to McAuliffe’s 45.2 percent.
Both Virginia candidates are also seemingly hitting the margins they need to hit where they need to hit them for a close photo finish statewide:
So far, based on a limited number of rural counties fully reporting (Bland, Buchanan), Youngkin is mostly hitting the rural numbers he needs. Long way to go. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
Fairfax: 133k early votes reported and McAuliffe winning the batch 74%-26%. That seems to exclude the vote-by-mail that could be even better for McAuliffe. To my eye, we’re on pace for a close statewide finish. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
But McAuliffe seems to have had problems in Northern Virginia’s Manassas:
Manassas: McAuliffe needed to win it by 12% by my benchmarks. It had higher than expected turnout, and he only won it by 10%. McAuliffe needs to compensate for it in other types of suburbs to win. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:45 p.m. ET:
There are some issues apparently in Fairfax County with reporting of absentee votes:
.@nytimes reports that Fairfax County is delayed in processing absentee votes and will not meet it’s self-imposed 8pm deadline. So for now, it’s mostly red early in the night, per the traditional results patterns in #Virginia. https://t.co/jw1prPObZu pic.twitter.com/uxRbnpmFM4
— Virginia Public Access Project (@vpapupdates) November 2, 2021
There is also some confusion in Loudoun County:
Breaking in Loudoun Co.: 71k votes reported and McAuliffe wins the batch 55%-45%. @vpapupdates is reporting those are *Election Day* votes, not EV/VBM. If that’s true, it would be a good result for McAuliffe. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
Just got up to 108k votes reported in Loudoun, and McAuliffe lead there down to 53%-46%. According to Loudoun Co., 40k of these *are* early votes…in which case, that would be good for Youngkin. Need a few minutes to sort this out. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:40 p.m. ET:
With 16 percent reporting now, Youngkin’s lead continues to grow–now at nearly 60,000 votes. It’s still too early to tell what this all means. But Youngkin’s 55.8 percent currently leads McAuliffe’s 43.6 percent.
UPDATE 7:38 p.m. ET:
Breitbart News’s Ashley Oliver and Matt Perdie are at Youngkin HQ in Virginia for election night. Ashley sends this report along from the Youngkin event:
We’re here at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, where the Youngkin campaign is spending election night. The second floor of the hotel is filling up fast with staff and supporters dressed up and preparing to watch the results roll in. Energy is high, and one Youngkin campaign staffer told Breitbart News they are feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome.
UPDATE 7:36 p.m. ET
Youngkin is crushing it in Loudoun County, where he focused his campaign on education issues:
Loudoun County with a big early vote dump: Youngkin hitting 45%.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:33 p.m. ET
McAuliffe is crushing it with mail and early votes, especially in northern Virginia:
McAuliffe wins the Arlington early/absentee vote 82%-18%. That 64 pt. margin will come down as Election Day votes come in, but McAuliffe needs a ~52 pt. margin there to win statewide. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
McAuliffe’s 15% of the EDay vote so far in Buchanan Co. (far SWVA) strikes me as pretty respectable, considering Biden got 16% there and we don’t even have EV/VBM reporting yet. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
Nonetheless, Youngkin doing slightly better than expected according to the Times’ Cohn:
We now have over 100k votes over ~100 precincts.
It’s basically exactly what we thought it would be a tied election.
But YoungKin is running just a little bit ahead of our expectations so far.
Still very early; precincts not necessarily representative— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
With 9 percent reporting, Youngkin’s 54.2 percent still leads McAuliffe’s 45 percent–by about 26,000 votes.
UPDATE 7:27 p.m. ET:
With 5 percent now reporting in Virginia, Youngkin’s lead is down to just under 14,000 votes–with 54.3 percent, Youngkin still leads McAuliffe’s 45 percent. It’s still early so unclear what to make of it as this stage.
UPDATE 7:24 p.m. ET:
In New York–and in other places–some voters are being turned away from polling places over a lack of a mask. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House GOP Conference chairwoman, is sounding the alarm–calling it “illegal voter suppression”:
Illegal voter suppression. From a Lewis County constituent.
RECORD AND REPORT ANY ILLEGAL VOTER SUPPRESSION. https://t.co/Mtmy9GZtOL pic.twitter.com/P1RQafmUvT
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:21 p.m. ET:
The first votes are in from very red areas, and Youngkin has a huge lead–as expected–there.
As expected, Youngkin running up enormous margins among EDay batches of votes in rural, red VA counties. Doesn’t tell us much yet. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
We’ve got our first few thousand votes, from 11 Election Day precincts.
It’s not much, but extremely close to expectations: it’s at 100% of our turnout projection (3.325 million), and Youngkin is running exactly how well he thought he would (80% of the vote)— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
According to the New York Times, with 1 percent reporting, Youngkin leads with 65.2 percent to McAuliffe’s 34.1 percent.
UPDATE 7:11 p.m. ET:
As first results are expected to come out soon, some experts are saying that the early voting numbers might get reported first–so it might play out differently than it has in previous recent elections where Republicans lead big first then Democrats close later:
We’re expecting to get Fairfax absentee/early vote numbers quickly after 7pm tonight (unlike in the past). If Youngkin gets over 30% of that vote, that’d be a great sign for him (but I’d still expect it to be sub-30%).
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
The polls are closed in Virginia
We’ll probably get some results soon, and it may not follow the usual red-to-blue pattern we’ve seen so many times in Virginia.
Expect some blue early votes at the front-end, thanks to a new law allowing preprocessing of absentee votes— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
Also, it appears as though the early vote is smaller than November 2020 in Virginia:
It’s worth noting that Trump won the Election Day vote by like >20. So McAuliffe can do way better than Biden among Election Day voters, and still lose (mainly because the early vote seems so much smaller)
— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 7:00 p.m. ET:
The polls have closed in Virginia, and results are expected to start pouring in soon. Polls close in New Jersey in an hour at 8 p.m. ET.
UPDATE 6:55 p.m. ET:
Exit polls in New Jersey, meanwhile, show taxes have emerged as a top issue there:
Taxes are a top voter issue in the New Jersey governor’s race — which could explain why GOP challenger Jack Ciattarelli is running so close against Gov. Phil Murphy. But will that be enough in a state where registered Democratic voters have a 2-to-1 advantage? @adam_brew reports: pic.twitter.com/e2zTYgBeJg
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 6:48 p.m. ET:
Some, like the Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman, are suggesting before the polls close that turnout seems to favor the Republican, Youngkin, as it’s higher in redder areas of Virginia than in bluer areas:
As strong as turnout has been in blue areas, red areas looking even higher. Rockingham Co. (Trump +40) now up to 116% of its ’17 turnout, w/ three hours left to go. By comparison, Charlottesville (Biden +73) is at only 89% of its ’17 turnout. https://t.co/dDG3cBBA30
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
It is as of now unclear whether this red surge will be enough for Youngkin to defeat McAuliffe though:
To be clear, Charlottesville is not representative of all blue areas. For example, Falls Church (Biden +64) was at 102% of its ’17 total at 4pm.
But as expected, Rs are seeing a big enthusiasm surge vs. ’17. Whether it’s enough for Youngkin, we’ll see. #VAGOV
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 2, 2021
The New York Times’s Nate Cohn has a decent breakdown, too, of what to make of early voting:
Final advance voting update: the 1.1 million voters who cast early/mail ballots probably backed Biden with around 63% of the vote in 2020, according to estimates based on voter file data and NYT/Siena polls from 2017-2020
— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
It’s important to note that’s the proportion that voted for Biden, not McAuliffe. We can reasonably infer that McAuliffe will win this vote, but whether it’s 58% or 63 will depend on the size of the crossover vote.
That said, all seem consistent with ’21 polling on early voting— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
OTOH, if Youngkin got no crossover vote in early voting, -then McA would win 63% of early votes and Youngkin would need to win by 16 points on Election Day to prevail
— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) November 2, 2021
UPDATE 6:40 p.m. ET:
Exit polls in Virginia show that Republican Glenn Youngkin has an 18-point favorability rating advantage among voters over Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
Virginia Exit Poll:
Youngkin:
Favourable: 53%
Unfavourable: 44%
Net: +9%McAuliffe:
Favourable: 44%
Unfavourable: 53%
Net: -9%– MSNBC Exit –
— Polling USA (@USA_Polling) November 2, 2021
In preliminary exit polls we received from our network ABC, just 44% of Virginia voters interviewed see Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe favorably vs. 53% unfavorable. Republican Glenn Youngkin is the reverse, 53% favorable vs 44% unfavorable. #Elections2021
— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) November 2, 2021
But Democrats are expressing confidence before the polls close:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if things don’t quite shape up the way the polls have suggested, if some of what we’re seeing this early is accurate,” Julian Castro reacts to first exit polling from Virginia. pic.twitter.com/adPooOXwxb
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 2, 2021
The exit polls also show the economy is the number one issue, followed by coronavirus and education:
VIRGINIA EXIT POLLS via @CBSNewsPoll: ISSUES IMPORTANT TO VOTERS: ECONOMY AND JOBS TOPS THE LIST. Roughly a 1/3rd of voters said it’s most important issue facing Virginia, followed by education (about 1/4), taxes and the coronavirus.
— Ed O’Keefe (@edokeefe) November 2, 2021
This piece from John Carney, Breitbart News’s economics editor, has more on the exit polling in Virginia and the significance of the economy being the biggest issue.
Comments are closed.