Over the past twenty years, American politics has steadily polarized alongside city and rural strains, with Democrats working up the rating in well-educated metropolitan areas and Republicans making positive aspects within the countryside.
For one night time in Virginia, that development didn’t proceed.
In a departure from current demographic tendencies, there weren’t actually any notable demographic tendencies in Virginia in any respect.
Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for governor, gained by making broad positive aspects over Democrats in each a part of the state and, apparently, throughout each demographic group. He gained within the cities, the suburbs and rural areas. He gained within the east and west. He made inroads in precincts with each white and nonwhite voters.
It’s an unusually easy image for such a noteworthy outcome. When a candidate outperforms expectations, it’s usually accompanied by a giant breakthrough amongst a specific demographic group; when a candidate disappoints, they nonetheless often have a couple of vibrant spots. There have been no vibrant spots for the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe, however no breakthroughs for Mr. Youngkin, both.
The broad shift to the precise may point out widespread revulsion towards Democrats, or it may merely be an indication that longstanding tendencies have lastly run their course. Or maybe it’s as a result of Mr. Youngkin adopted a message that appealed to the sorts of voters who’ve progressively been fleeing the Republican Social gathering.
Regardless of the purpose, it makes it tougher to inform the standard story about why Democrats misplaced on Tuesday.