Why a historically conservative county in Virginia is making national Republicans nervous

[DonViejo]

By Paul Schwartzman November 25 at 5:04 PM

CHESTERFIELD, Va. — In this bastion of Virginia-brand conservatism, dozens of Democratic women roared on a recent night as their organization’s leader crowed over their party’s historic electoral triumph.

-snip-

Until Gov.-elect Ralph Northam (D) won Chesterfield County three weeks ago, the stretch of suburban and rural communities southwest of Richmond had been considered reliably Republican.

Yet voters infuriated by Trump, many of them women and Hispanics who have migrated to the county in recent years, are redefining Chesterfield and alarming Virginia Republicans who have depended on the area to make up for the support the party lacks in urban areas.

The results in Chesterfield are also a potential harbinger of what looms beyond Virginia, in suburbs where anger toward Trump is motivating voters bent on defeating Republican candidates in next year’s midterm elections.

“That’s a huge red flag for Republicans and an opportunity for Democrats,” said Jesse Ferguson, a national Democratic strategist. “There’s opportunity in these traditionally conservative suburbs with college-educated white voters who are unwilling to back a Republican candidate. It’s a function of and proof that Trump has tainted the rest of the Republicans running for office.”

Chris LaCivita, a Richmond-based GOP strategist who works on national campaigns, said Chesterfield’s results are a pointed reminder of the challenges Republicans face not only to remain competitive in Virginia’s suburbs but elsewhere.

-snip-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/why-a-historically-conservative-county-in-virginia-is-making-national-republicans-nervous/2017/11/25/654a90f4-cbbb-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I thought this would be about Loudoun County.

It has been reliably in the (R) column, but I think the Dems carried it a few weeks ago. I can't check now.

[Lochloosa]

3. In Loudoun County, Northam (D) took 59 percent to Gillespie's 39 percent

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Yow. That's a margin.

Herring's from Loudoun County, right? Used to be a delegate, Commonwealth's Attorney, something? Again, I can't check now, due to a slow connection.

[Iliyah]

2. This is only the beginning.

Voter suppression right now only pertains to POC, not white nor young whites nor white women nor rural. I think they are slowly learning that the GOP's are selfish SOBs and only care for the very rich. They are slowly seeing how GOPs, t-rump and his administration is fucking up the USA. Their future is at stake.