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<\/p>\nDemocratic Gubernatorial Candidates Win in Virginia and New Jersey in Backlash to Trumpism<\/b>
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Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam has defeated Trump-supported candidate\u00a0Ed Gillespie to win the Virginia governor\u2019s race, while Democrat\u00a0Philip D. Murphy\u00a0defeated Chris Christie\u2019s Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to win in New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Trump bashed Gillespie following his loss despite pushing him on Twitter earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
\n.@EdWGillespie<\/a> will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone. Vote today, ASAP!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nEd Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don\u2019t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
And Steve Bannon had declared Gillespie \u201cTrumpism without Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nReminder that Steve Bannon said Trumpism without Trump was on the ballot in Virginia. pic.twitter.com\/qxzzr9TWKI<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) November 8, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The NYT reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n
Mr. Northam was propelled to victory over Ed Gillespie, the Republican nominee, by liberal and moderate voters who were eager to send a message to President Trump in a state that rejected him in 2016 and where he is deeply unpopular.<\/p>\n
The campaign between a pair of low-key, establishment politicians was brought to life by national wedge issues, from immigration to Confederate iconography, and Mr. Northam\u2019s win offered a momentary catharsis for Democrats beyond Virginia\u2019s borders, who have been hungry to find political success this year. But it was not the only welcome result of the night for the party.\u00a0Philip Murphy won the New Jersey governorship<\/a>, according to the Associated Press, restoring Democratic dominance to a major blue state and bringing an unceremonious end to Gov. Chris Christie\u2019s tumultuous tenure.<\/p>\n
In both Virginia and New Jersey, voters rebuffed a wave of provocative ads linking immigration and crime, suggesting the limitations of hard-edge tactics in the sort of affluent and suburban communities that are pivotal in next year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n
And Democrats should make significant gains in the Virginia legislature, the WaPo<\/em> reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n
Democrats were leading in races in Prince William County, include two women<\/a> who would be the first Latina members of the General Assembly. A pair of Republican incumbents in Loudoun County were also trailing their Democratic challengers.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an unbelievable night,\u201d said House Minority Leader David Toscano (D-Charlottesville) in an interview an hour after polls closed. \u201cThere were districts we didn\u2019t think we had much of a shot in and we are running even right now, and there\u2019s going to be some pretty strong upsets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Republicans had structural advantages heading into Election Day, including a cash advantage built up over years and the name recognition and community ties that come with incumbency.<\/p>\n
In New York City, Mayor Bill De Blasio was reelected handily, the NY Daily News<\/em> reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n
De Blasio was declared the winner shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, capping a race that featured fights over the incumbent\u2019s record and ethics but in which he always remained the heavy favorite.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been four years. I think we made real tangible changes in people\u2019s lives,\u201d de Blasio said after he cast his vote in Park Slope, Brooklyn Tuesday morning. \u201cI would be very humbled and honored to serve as your mayor again for the next four years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malliotakis, a Republican Assemblywoman from Staten Island, took on de Blasio on a platform she dubbed trash, transit, and trash \u2014 attacking what she perceived as declining quality of life in the city and Hizzoner\u2019s handling of a stubborn homelessness crisis.<\/p>\n
The post Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Win in Virginia and New Jersey in Backlash to Trumpism<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n