Progressive Breakfast: Did Education Save The Democrats in the Virginia Governor’s Race?

MORNING MESSAGE

Jeff Bryant

Did Education Save The Democrats in the Virginia Governor’s Race?

Ralph Northam’s big win for the Democratic party in the Virginia governor’s election is being hailed as a “rebuke of President Trump.” But it’s also a rebuke of the vision of a more unequal nation put forth by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Northam got education right not only by differing from DeVos, but also by distancing his views from those held by some top Democrats, too. The people listened, and so should Democratic Party leaders.

Trumpism Trounced In Tuesday’s Elections

Trumpism Trounced In Tuesday’s Elections. OurFuture.org:“Tuesday’s winners include bold progressives and a voter-led push to expand Medicaid in Maine, overriding the state’s Trump-like governor. Defeated was a Virginia gubernatorial candidate who spent millions on fear-mongering and race-baiting. So who, we might ask, is the biggest loser?”

Major Democratic Victories In NJ, VA and ME

Anti-Trump backlash fuels a Democratic sweep in Virginia and elections across the country. WaPo:“Tuesday was the best day for Democrats politically since Barack Obama won reelection in 2012. Remember, conservatives scored significant victories in the November 2014, 2015 and 2016 elections. Democrats desperately needed some wins after they went all-in on a House special election in Georgia this spring and lost. Last night, they got them. Voters came out in droves. They braved the rain and the cold to send a message to President Trump. The results across the country represent nothing less than a stinging repudiation of Trump on the first anniversary of his election.”

Progressive Democrat Murphy Next NJ Governor

Phil Murphy is elected Governor of New Jersey, in a lift for Democrats. NYT:” New Jersey became the seventh state in the country where Democrats now control the legislative and executive branches with the election on Tuesday of Philip D. Murphy, a former Wall Street banker with no experience in office, as its 56th governor, according to The Associated Press. The decisive victory by Mr. Murphy, who transformed himself from a Goldman Sachs executive into a progressive Democrat to match the direction of an anxious political party, gives Democrats a badly needed lift and a governor who has vowed to make his state a bulwark against the policies of President Trump. Mr. Murphy’s ascendancy also brings an emphatic end to the tumultuous eight-year reign of Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who was once considered a viable contender for the White House but who leaves office as one of the country’s least popular governors. Still, despite Mr. Murphy’s skillfully managed campaign and ambitious agenda, it remains to be seen whether he can deliver on his many promises.”

Northam’s Big VA Win

Northam beats Gillespie in Virginia governor’s race. Politico:“Democrat Ralph Northam was elected governor of Virginia on Tuesday in a sweeping victory that defied the conventional wisdom of a tightening race. The lieutenant governor’s victory joins Democrat Phil Murphy’s win in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race to hand Democrats new hope in the Donald Trump era. After a bruising race against former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, Northam outran Hillary Clinton in a state she carried by 5 points while losing the presidency in November 2016. A series of late-campaign controversies hitting Northam had Republicans cautiously optimistic that Gillespie could close the gap and pull off an upset, but Democrats rode a wave of anti-Trump backlash and satisfaction with outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration. ‘It was said that the eyes of the nation are now on the commonwealth,’ Northam said in his victory speech. ‘Today, Virginians have answered and spoken. Virginians have told us to end the divisiveness, that we will not condone hatred and bigotry, and to end the politics that have torn this country apart.'”

LGBT, Minority Candidates Mark Historic Wins

Election night brings historic wins for minority and LGBT candidates. CNN:“In a night of many firsts, several minority and LGBT candidates won local elections that echoed the blue wave in which Democrats won races large and small. Two openly transgender candidates won races as well as the first Sikh mayor in New Jersey and first African-American mayors in major cities.
Danica Roem defeated incumbent delegate Bob Marshall, who had been elected 13 times over 26 years, for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. When Roem takes office, she will be the first openly transgender candidate to be elected and serve in a state legislative body. Althea Garrison, elected in Massachusetts, was the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature, but did not campaign as an openly transgender person during her race in 1992.”

GOP Easily Defeats Dems in Utah

Republican John Curtis easily beats Democrat Kathie Allen, even in Salt Lake County. SLTrib:“With a lofty lead, a big grin and a pair of American-flag-printed socks, Provo Mayor John Curtis, a moderate Republican, celebrated his win Tuesday night to become Utah’s newest congressman. ‘I pledge to serve the underrepresented,’ he said during his victory speech. ‘That means spending more time in rural Utah. It means if you’re not white, Mormon and male, I am still here for you.’ Curtis trounced an astonishingly well-funded Democrat and a surprise third-party newcomer in the special election. He will serve the final year of former Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s term after the congressman unexpectedly stepped down in June and joined Fox News as a contributor. ‘It just became very clear that he has an overwhelming lead,’ Bennett said… Minutes later, Allen, too, called Curtis to offer her congratulations and advice. ‘[I] told him I hope he has the courage to stand up to Donald Trump,’ she said of her phone call with the mayor.”

Progressive Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to activists. Progressive Breakfast and OurFuture.org are projects of People's Action. more »