I’ve spent plenty of time over the past three decades reminding national political reporters and political junkies that off-year gubernatorial races don’t tell us a hell of a lot about what will happen in the next midterm election or the next presidential contest.
State and local races, after all, tend to be about state and local issues and the appeal of state and local candidates.
But this year’s contests in the Commonwealth of Virginia feel different, don’t they? Nationally, the rise in straight ticket voting reflects the political polarization everywhere, which could result in more “nationalized” elections. CONTINUED
Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call
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