Political News in Virginia
VA. Democrats Unable To Make Any Advances In Recent Elections
By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal and Guide
Manpower and money did not translate into victory for Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and state Democrats who failed in the November 3 state elections to capture a working majority in the State Senate or make a dent in the GOP’s control of the House of Delegates.
The Republican party managed to retain its slender 21-19 majority in the Senate and the 2 to 1 seat dominance in the House.
A low turnout of voters which early post-elections assessment say was at 30 percent is being blamed for dashing the Democrats’ hopes of turning the tide.
It seems especially that the low turn out among Blacks and young Whites hurt the party’s chances in key races, including the 7th District in Hampton Roads where the party tried to unseat incumbent Senator Frank Wagner.
Wagner, a Republican, fought back a well-funded effort by Democrat Gary McCollum. The final tally was 18,258 for Wagner and 15,426 McCollum. The two camps spent over $3 million in a much-watched race which received a great deal of attention and money from the Governor and his operation.
Overall, more than $43 million dollars were raised and spent by Democrats and Republicans in the 2015 legislative contest. Governor McAuliffe hoped the money he raised would enable his party to capture the Senate.
With two years remaining in his term, Republicans retaining control of the legislature threatens many of the Governor’s legislative goals, including budgetary matters and the expansion of Medicaid to allow poor and working class Virginians to access the Affordable Care Act for healthcare.
In the past Senate Democrats managed to secure some control over legislations by securing support from moderate Republicans and using the tie-breaking vote of the Democratic Lt. Governor.
This year, the absence of competition was a likely factor in the lack of participation. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, 62 of 100 House of Delegate elections were uncontested.
In the Senate, 17 of 40 races were uncontested.
According to VPAP, nearly one-third of registered voters live in a precinct where the November 3 ballot had only one choice for House and Senate.
The day after the election Democrats were seeking to assess the elections and their frustration to secure some political clout in the Richmond.
‘I am still in a state of mourning,” said State Senator Mamie Locke, the chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. “The impact of this election will be felt for some time to come.”
Locke said with the exodus of John Watkins of the10th District who retired and Walter A. Stosch, Democrats have lost two moderate Republicans they could occasionally count on to support progressive legislations.
She said the heavily conservative Republican House and Senate caucuses will be reliable opponents to any progressive legislation offered by the Democrats
Locke said if Republicans retain their hold on the
House and Senate past the 2017 legislative race, the party will be in control of the redistricting process after the 2020 Census.
Unless challenged by the federal courts, Republicans could strengthen their position numerically in both the House and Senate Districts of the legislature.
Locke echoes other Democrats who said Democrats should have been more aggressive in highlighting the weaknesses of incumbent Frank Wagner’s record in the Senate.
“Wagner had no record of important achievements,” said Locke. “But he ran ads stating that he was good friend of public education.”
Further, she complained the Democrats’ “Get out the Vote” operations and ground game lacked enough muscle to get key voting groups out to vote such as Blacks and college age people.
Democrat State Delegate Lionell Spruill of Chesapeake said he was disappointed by the November 3 elections but he said there was one bright spot for Democrats and the Governor.
Although the Democrats own only 33 seats in the House of Delegates, that’s enough to deter that body from overriding a Gubernatorial veto.
