DemDaily: Virginia’s Surprising Results
June 14, 2017
As one of two gubernatorial battle grounds this year, Virginia was already the focus of national attention as a bellweather for the political mood of the electorate -- but the unexpected results of yesterday's Democratic and Republican primaries will have political pundits scrambling for the precinct breakdown.
The surprise is not with the end result, but with the margins.
Democratic Nominee Ralph Northam (pic: AP)
A pre-primary May 9-14 Washington Post-Schar School Poll showed Democrats Tom Perriello and Ralph Northam at an essential dead heat @ 40%-38%.
The same poll showed former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie leading the Republican nomination 38% to Corey Stewart's 18% and State Senator Frank Wagner with 15%.
Instead Northam swept up the Democratic nomination by an unexpectedly wide margin of over 11%, while Gillespie's lead over Stewart closed to under 1% in the end for the GOP nod.
2017 Virginia Governor's Race
Results of Democratic and Republican Primaries
|
Democratic Primary |
May 9-14 Poll WashPo-Schar |
June 13 Election Final Percentage |
|
Ralph Northam,
Lieutenant Governor
|
40% | 55.9% |
|
Tom Perriello, former Congressman (VA-05)
|
38% | 44.1% |
|
Republican Primary |
||
|
Ed Gillespie
Former RNC Chair and 2014 US Senate nominee
|
38% | 43.71% |
|
Corey Stewart
Former Trump State Chair, Prince William Co Board Supervisors Chair, Candidate Lt Gov 2013
|
18% | 42.53% |
|
Frank Wagner
State Senator
|
15% | 13.75% |
| General Election | ||
|
Northam v. Gillespie
|
Northam: 49% Gillespie: 38% |
|
|
Perriello v. Gillespie
|
Perriello: 50% Gillespie: 37% |
Republican Nominee Ed Gillespie
What Does it Mean for the General Election?
The WashPo-Schar May poll showed both Northam and Perriello beating Gillespie by double digits in the general. Let's hope that part of the poll sticks.
More analysis on the results to come.
See Also: DemDaily: Sweet Virginia 5/18
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Sources: Washington Post, Quinnipiac
