Is President Trump to Blame for the GOP Collapse in Virginia?

Virginia always elects a new governor the year after a presidential election, and it almost always elects a governor from the party opposite that of the president (9 of the last 10 times, in fact). So everyone knew it would be hard for Republicans to pull out a victory this year. But Republican Ed Gillespie and the rest of the Republican ticket ran a strong race. They were solid in fundraising and ran neck-and-neck with the Democrats for the home stretch of the campaign. Democrat Ralph Northam was a mediocre candidate running a lackluster campaign, and it seemed the momentum

WATCH: Democrats Run Disgusting, Race-Baiting Attack Ad in Va.

This week, a George Soros-backed PAC supporting Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam released an ad against Republican Ed Gillespie so disturbing that even the far-left Washington Post called it “vile”: The ad came out one day before the terrorist attack in New York, where a man used a truck to mow down and kill 8 people. The group pulled the ad after the attack, but Northam’s campaign didn’t disown it. A campaign spokesman said, “It’s not shocking that communities of color are scared of what his Trump-like policy positions mean for them.” Northam himself defended it, justifying it by saying Gillespie’s ads “have promoted

Desperate Democrats Resort to Racial Politics in Virginia

As I’ve written several times before, Virginia’s 2017 statewide elections are critical for both national parties. Polling in Virginia races is notoriously wild, and this year has been no exception. While most polls have shown Democrat Ralph Northam leading Republican Ed Gillespie, they have almost all been within the margin of error. That is, until recently, when Gillespie took a 1-point lead in a poll released last week, the first time he has led a poll during the general election campaign. And just yesterday, a new poll came out showing Gillespie with an 8-point lead. The Democrats are panicking and

Is the Democrats’ Anti-Trump Campaign Backfiring in Virginia?

The closely-watched race for governor in Virginia is heating up — with good signs for Republicans. Virginia is one of two states that has elections every year, and its gubernatorial elections are always the year after presidential elections, so they are viewed as important bellwethers for how the president is doing. This year, all indications are that it’s a dead heat — which is actually a good sign for Republican nominee Ed Gillespie. Let me explain. Virginia has turned from a red state to a purple or light blue state in the last 10 years, driven by growth of the liberal Washington,

Planned Parenthood Spending $3 Million to Elect Pro-Abortion Va. Governor

With the movement to cut off their state funding picking up speed in Virginia, Planned Parenthood is spending big with the hopes of getting a governor elected who will return the favor by keeping them funded. In addition to dumping $3 million into Democratic candidate Ralph Northam’s campaign, the PAC of Planned Parenthood’s Virginia affiliate plans to knock on 300,000 doors, send mailers to 400,000 homes, and run digital and radio ads endorsing Northam and opposing his Republican rival, Ed Gillespie. When it comes to the issue of abortion, the differences between Northam and Gillespie are clearly displayed. Northam has

The Stage Is Set for Battleground Virginia 2017

After a primary on Tuesday that defied expectations, Virginia has its candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General in 2017. Virginia is one of two states that holds elections every year (the other is New Jersey), and this year will have important consequences. As we detailed in March, political analysts will be watching Virginia very closely this year as a barometer for how voters are feeling about the Trump administration and as a bellwether for the 2018 midterm elections. Virginia was reliably red for decades but began shifting to a purple state in the 2000s. Barack Obama won the state in

Near-Upset in Virginia as GOP Primary Ends in Photo Finish

Politics is never boring in Virginia — a battleground state which is one of just two states that has elections every year — and last night’s primaries were no exception. (For some background on the races, read our preview from March.) Ed Gillespie narrowly defeated Corey Stewart to secure the Republican nomination for governor. Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and Counselor to the President under George W. Bush, defeated Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and hardcore Donald Trump loyalist, by a razor-thin margin of 1.2 percent. It was a surprisingly close

Can This Pro-Trump Candidate Pull Off an Upset Tomorrow?

A new poll out in Virginia shows that tomorrow’s gubernatorial primary election may be a lot closer than many originally predicted. Previous polling showed establishment favorite, former RNC chairman and unsuccessful 2014 Senate candidate Ed Gillespie, with a comfortable double digit lead over Prince William County supervisor — and outspoken Trump supporter — Corey Stewart. However, the new poll places Stewart ahead with 42 percent to Gillespie’s 41 percent among Republicans who say they will definitely vote. Stewart’s strength in this poll comes from his energized base and their likelihood to actually make the trip to their polling place. According to

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