We all know the its slogan : Virginia is for lovers.
So who does Virginia love more: Democrats or Republicans?
That is the question.
Let me explain!
Virginia has its state office elections this November.
How Virginia votes in 20-21may be how the entire country goes in the 22 midterms.
Even though Virginia is a small commonwealth of just about 8 and a half million people,
It’s a microcosm of the entire nation.
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth: <<”Virginia looks a lot like America compared to many states.”>>
Annie Andersen: Dr. Stephen Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington says Virgina is like 4 regions in one.
Dr. Farnsworth <<“The northeast, the more liberal part of the state is not unlike the northeastern United States. We have an agricultural heartland. We have kind of a suncoast in the Virginia beach area. There is an industrial district around Richmond that is not unlike the industrial part of the midwest.”>>
Annie Andersen: In other words, Virginia has big cities, suburbs of all sizes, medium cities, small cities, college towns and rural areas… just like the United states.
And a wide variety of people too.
Dr. Farnsworth: <<”Unlike many states, a lot of people from Virginia, most people who live here now came from somewhere else. Because of the large number of government workers, including the military bases here in Virginia, we really do have people from all over the country in Virginia.”>>
Annie Andersen: To help understand the state’s uniqueness,
Take a look at these gubernatorial campaign ads.
To get rural voters .. Candidates focus on small town issues and conservative ideals.
Voice Over:<<“A lot of politicians don’t think about towns like ours. People leaving, businesses closing. But Terry McAuliffe is different. When he was Governor, Terry focused on bringing good paying jobs everywhere, to places like Danville and across Virginia.”>>
Voice Over: <<”What is Terry McAuliffe’s plan? Refusing to meet with police officers. Touting endorsement from extreme left-wing groups that want to defund the police.”>>
Annie Andersen: Compare those to the ads running in the DC suburbs in Northern Virginia. – which lean left.
Glenn Youngkin: ” it’s your right to make your own choice and i respect that i do hope you’ll choose to join me in getting the vaccine
we can protect lives and livelihoods here in virginia.”>>
Terry McAuliffe/ Glenn Youngkin<<”Let me be clear, Glenn Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican. He is a loyalist to Donald Trump.’President Trump represents so much of why I’m running.”>>
Annie Andersen:Now enter the Trump factor.
Part of Virgina loves him. While the other part loathes him.
A similar dynamic that exists across the country.
Dr. Farnsworth<<”President Trump was very helpful to Democrats in Virginia because it gave them something very powerful to run against. (3:42) There were a lot of people really motivated who turned out for the Democrats in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Virginia. (3:50) When Trump is no longer president, it seems like the Democratic enthusiasm isn’t what it once was, ”>.
Annie Andersen: The sweet spot in Virgina…. Like the rest of the US… Suburbanites,
nestled between the city-and-country.
Dr. Farnsworth: <<”one thing that Virginia does have is a much higher percentage of people living in the suburbs than many states. Many people have middle class, live in middle class communities with middle class jobs or upper middle class communities with upper middle class jobs because of the federal presence here.”
Annie Andersen: Sum it all up — and you can see why VA is a mini-version of the US.
A wide variety of regions,Diverse people,The Trump factor,And The Suburban Sweet Spot.
Did we tell this story fairly and factually?
Let me know by using the bias meter?
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