GOP wins big in Virginia governor race

Let’s take a quick peek at the upcoming gubernatorial race in Virginia.  And yes, I know the election between former Democrat Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and his Republican opponent businessman Glenn Youngkin will not take place until November 2^nd – but the Republican Party has already won in that race if the current polls are correct.

Virginia has become a very blue state thanks to northern Virginia’s Fairfax County – a bedroom community for Washington’s overwhelmingly Democrat bureaucrats.  Four of the past five governors of the Old Dominion state have been Democrats.  President Biden won the state by more than 10 points over President Trump – 54 to 44 percent.  In Fairfax County, Biden topped Trump 70 to 28 percent.

It was expected to be a fairly easy win for former Governor McAuliffe to reclaim the Governor’s Mansion after a four-year hiatus.  But it is not turning out that way.

According to virtually all the leading pollsters, the Virginia gubernatorial race is “too close to call.”  As of October 12^th, McAuliffe leads 48 to 46 percent.  But that is down from a previous poll – and considering the polling margin of error, the race is a statistical tie – and the momentum at this point seems to be going in Youngkin’ s favor.

If Youngkin wins that will be cause for major celebration by Republicans – and a significant recalibration of the 2022 midterm election by the pundits.  But even if McAuliffe wins in a squeaker, the GOP may not get the office, but they will have shown significant improvement in the vote – and still require a recalibration of the 2022 prospects by the pundits.

Unless the polls are wrong or there is a dramatic turnabout in voter preference, Virginia’s special election is looking like good news for the GOP.

So, there ‘tis.