In politics, the people who really know you are your friends and neighbors. At this stage in the election cycle, many Democratic presidential candidates have low name recognition nationally, which means that their popularity at home might be one way to help us understand whether they can appeal to a […] Read more »
Poll shows Virginians favor Lt. Gov. Fairfax remaining in office as he challenges sexual assault allegations
A new poll shows that Virginians slightly favor Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) remaining in office as he fights allegations of sexual assault, the first such finding in statewide polling since the scandal broke three weeks ago. Forty percent of Virginia residents said Fairfax should not resign, compared with 31 […] Read more »
Virginia poll: Northam approval weak, but Virginians not demanding his resignation
A new University of Virginia Center for Politics/Ipsos poll of Virginia adults shows Gov. Ralph Northam (D) with weak approval numbers, but Virginians surveyed are not demanding his resignation and do not favor the state legislature removing him through impeachment. Meanwhile, a plurality of respondents say Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax […] Read more »
Virginians split on governor’s fate amid blackface scandal, poll shows
Virginians are deadlocked over whether Gov. Ralph Northam (D) should step down after the emergence of a photo on his 1984 medical school yearbook page depicting people in blackface and Ku Klux Klan robes, with African Americans saying by a wide margin he should remain in office despite the offensive […] Read more »
Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum and the choices for Democrats in 2020
Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum represent case studies in the new politics of America and give voice to a discussion inside the Democratic Party about how to win the presidency in 2020. The questions are these: What kind of candidate and what kind of campaign would give Democrats the best […] Read more »
Virginia’s Racist History Clashes With New South Image
L. Douglas Wilder, a grandson of slaves, became America’s first elected black governor 30 years ago, winning in Virginia in part by finessing the racist history of the state that is now roiling its politics once more. To succeed as a black candidate in 1989, Mr. Wilder had to patiently […] Read more »