The gubernatorial election in the state of Virginia is ominous for Joe Biden: – It goes towards a difficult by-election for the Democrats, says US expert Are Tågvold Flaten.
In a year’s time, a third of the members of the Senate will stand for election – and the entire House of Representatives. Then the Democrats’ narrow majority in Congress can break.
“The gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey can be a pointer to the path it takes,” said Flaten, editor of the website American Politics.
Republican Glenn Youngkin (54) won in Virginia, while Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli gave the Democratic governor of New Jersey a fight to the finish line.
Youngkin is described as a new star among Republicans.
– The election result in Virginia is good news for the Republicans. It shows that it is possible to get Donald Trump’s support and at the same time appeal to more moderate voters, says Flaten.
– Managed the balancing act
Youngkin accepted the statement of support from the former president, but did not want to act with him or have Trump campaign for him.
– The Democrats’ strategy was to say that Youngkin means much of the same as Trump, but Youngkin managed the balance and marked that he is also his own man, says Flaten.
Biden took Virginia by more than ten percentage points in the presidential election. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe was expected to win early, but polls were slower ahead of election day.
In the end, Youngkin won comfortably with 50.7 percent, against 48.6 percent for McAuliffe.
Youngkin has avoided criticizing Trump. Nevertheless, he has managed to distance himself from the former president, who is unpopular with center-right voters in the state.
Trump celebrated as victory
Trump cashed in on the outcome of the gubernatorial election on Tuesday as a victory for his movement.
“The MAGA movement is bigger and stronger than ever,” Trump said on Tuesday.
MAGA – or “Make America Great Again” – was Trump’s campaign slogan in 2016.