On May 8th, 2021, over 30,000 Virginia Republican voters participated in an “unassembled convention” at various statewide locations to elect the 2021 Republican ticket.
Using weighted, ranked choice voting (RCV)—where the lowest vote getter is eliminated each round until a winner clinches over 50 percent—voters selected nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General: Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares, respectively.
Although Virginia trends blue nationally, could this year’s statewide election be a bellwether going into 2022? It’s possible—given historical precedent.
A Repeat of 2009 Red Wave in 2021?
As the Virginian Pilot recently noted, “While Republicans have not won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009, the party has some hope of ending their drought this year; since 1973, only once has the party controlling the White House gone on to win the governor’s race in Virginia the next year.”
It’s undeniable our state is lurching uncomfortably to the left.
Aside from Northern Virginia, Richmond suburbs and parts of Hampton Roads, however, the Commonwealth is pretty red. https://6d24633eabf462ef2d6f71211b72bd61.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlCARTOONS | MICHAEL RAMIREZVIEW CARTOON
But could discontent with teachers unions, parole board corruption, one-party rule in Richmond, and potential backlash to the Biden administration benefit Virginia Republicans? Definitely.