OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The bloodbath that was Election 2021 for the Democrats has continued as the part suffered another major defeat.
Not only did Glenn Youngin win the governorship of the commonwealth but, on Friday, he learned that it is going to be simpler to get his agenda passed as Democrats have conceded that they lost the House of Delegates, The Associated Press reported.
“House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn issued a statement acknowledging the GOP majority shortly after Democratic Del. Martha Mugler conceded defeat in a tight race against Republican challenger A.C. Cordoza in the 91st House district, located in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region,” The AP reported. “With Mugler’s concession, Republicans now expect control over 51 seats in the 100-member chamber.”
“While the results of the election were not in our favor, our work for the people of Virginia goes on,” House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn said.
But their work will have to go on in the minority with a Republican governor.
Garren Shipley, a spokesman for House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert, said Filler-Corn called Gilbert on Friday. “The House Republican caucus appreciates her pledge to a smooth transition to the incoming majority,” Shipley said.
The GOP victories are being seen as a backlash against a Democratic majority that has pushed through a series of progressive reforms over the past two years, including the repeal of the death penalty, a loosening of abortion restrictions and the legalization of marijuana.
Democrats hold a slim 21-19 majority in the Senate. Senators are not up for reelection until 2023.
Tuesday’s marquee race in Virginia was the governor’s contest, in which Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin defeated former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The GOP also captured the lieutenant governor’s office after Republican Winsome Sears beat Democrat Hala Ayala, and the attorney general’s office with Republican Jason Miyares’ victory over Democratic two-term incumbent Mark Herring. Sears will become the state’s first female lieutenant governor and the first woman of color to win statewide office in Virginia.
Republicans had not controlled the House since 2000 and Democrats went into the Tuesday election with a 55 – 45 edge in the House of Delegates.
This is another part of what was a major victory for Republicans on Tuesday, who also came close to winning the New Jersey governor’s campaign even as Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy had a double digit lead in the polls.
In August an analyst said that Republicans are a favorite to win control of the United States House of Representatives in 2022, and the election Tuesday shows he may be correct.
Cook Political Report Senior Editor David Wasserman told NBC News that Republicans are poised to retake the lower chamber for a variety of reasons.
“Based on all factors, you’d have to consider Republicans the early favorites for the House majority in 2022,” Wasserman said.
“But as we found out in 2020, surprises can happen, and it’s not a done deal,” he added. “Democrats’ best hope is that Biden’s approval rating stays above 50% and that Republicans have a tougher time turning out their voters without Trump on the ballot.”
In July, a top House Democrat warned that the Republican Party is in a prime position to take back House in next year’s midterm elections.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick, who serves as a congressman from New York, says Democrats would lose their House majority if the midterms were held today.
Speaking with Politico, Tim Persico, executive director of the Maloney-led DCCC, shared data with incumbents showing that several House Democrats are at risk of losing their seats to Republican challengers.
“We are not afraid of this data … We’re not trying to hide this,” Persico told Politico. “If [Democrats] use it, we’re going to hold the House. That’s what this data tells us, but we gotta get in action.”
“The point is, to make sure that we’re all on the same page, that we understand the stakes. Here’s the good news: Everything we are doing and everything we’ve talked about doing is incredibly popular,” he added.
