Democracy Dies in Darkness

Five takeaways as Democrats sweep elections in New Jersey and Virginia

The party won the governor’s race in both states and a state attorney general’s contest that was up in the air, as voters delivered a rebuke of President Donald Trump.

10 min
New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, left, and Lt. Gov.-elect Dale Caldwell react on stage at their election night rally Tuesday in East Brunswick, New Jersey. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Democrats swept key elections across the country on Tuesday night, delivering a rebuke of President Donald Trump’s second term so far and boosting the party’s hopes ahead of the midterms.

In Virginia — traditionally a bellwether in the year after a presidential election — Democrats won every statewide contest, and Abigail Spanberger led the governor’s race by 15 points with almost all of the vote tallied. In New Jersey, Democratic gubernatorial pick Mikie Sherrill won by almost as much, easily beating back a strong Republican candidate whom she attacked for embracing Trump.

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