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Now that the Democrats own the 2021 redistricting, will they resist the temptation to derail it?
Has Virginia’s new Democratic legislative majority painted itself into a corner on redistricting? Can Democrats resist the temptation to derail a long-sought nonpartisan reapportionment commission already well on the road to becoming real? Back when they were the minority party (just two weeks ago), Democrats criticized majority Republicans for muscling brazenly partisan redistricting bills through […]
A commonwealth divided? Republican rural Virginia loses ground to Democrats’ suburban strongholds
The headline from Tuesday’s election was that Democrats had taken control of both the legislative and executive branches of Virginia government for the first time since 1993. The blue sweep of the House of Delegates and the Senate combined with the party’s owning the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general were significant because […]
‘A great deal of happiness’: Remember, there’s a lot more to life than elections
Tomorrow, the 2019 campaign comes to its merciful and overdue end. There’s little new to say on election eve, and who isn’t bone-weary of politics by now. So allow me today to share something rarely found the past few months: a story about a young man who responded to his own adversity by putting others’ […]
A once-in-a-generation reboot election heightens stakes in Va. House, Senate races
The curse (or blessing, depending on your viewpoint) of Virginia public life is that every year brings an election. Each is distinct in rhythm and intensity. Presidential elections bring the most spending, passion and highest turnouts. One year later, Virginia elects its governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Then come the “off-year” federal elections for […]