Democratic Comeback

In contemplating the Virginia gubernatorial election, you have to start with what the lady down the street calls “a true fact”: Virginia is the most responsibly conservative state in the nation. For the 13 years beginning in 1968, that conservatism was expressed via candidates fielded by the Republican Party; during that period, Virginia was the only state not to elect a Democratic governor or senator and not to go Democratic in a presidential election. In each of those elections, the candidate perceived as the more conservative prevailed.

So what happened this year? The gubernatorial race was won by Charles Robb. Not only is he a Democrat; he also happens to be the son-in-law of the late Lyndon Johnson, whose memory is uncherished by many Virginians. Robb won big, and for a number of reasons (in addition to the massive black vote he received: 97 per cent). Among them:

RM

About the Author

Ross Mackenzie

Featured Tags

In contemplating the Virginia gubernatorial election, you have to start with what the lady down the street calls “a true fact”: Virginia is the most responsibly conservative state in the nation. For the 13 years beginning in 1968, that conservatism was expressed via candidates fielded by the Republican Party; during that period, Virginia was the only state not to elect a Democratic governor or senator and not to go Democratic in a presidential election. In each of those elections, the candidate perceived as the more conservative prevailed.

So what happened this year? The gubernatorial race was won by Charles Robb. Not only is he a Democrat; he also happens to be the son-in-law of the late Lyndon Johnson, whose memory is uncherished by many Virginians. Robb won big, and for a number of reasons (in addition to the massive black vote he received: 97 per cent). Among them: