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Democrat Ralph Northam wins Virginia governor's race | Democrat Ralph Northam wins Virginia governor's race |
(35 minutes later) | |
After a nail-biting race to replace outgoing Governor Terry McAuliffe, Democratic candidate Ralph Northam has become the new Governor of Virginia. The election was widely seen as a test of the impact of Trump's presidency. | After a nail-biting race to replace outgoing Governor Terry McAuliffe, Democratic candidate Ralph Northam has become the new Governor of Virginia. The election was widely seen as a test of the impact of Trump's presidency. |
With 59 percent of precincts reporting, Northam was projected the winner with 51.4 percent of the vote, compared to Republican Ed Gillespie’s 47.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. | With 59 percent of precincts reporting, Northam was projected the winner with 51.4 percent of the vote, compared to Republican Ed Gillespie’s 47.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. |
Many saw the race as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s administration, with Democrats looking to hold on to the only southern state that former secretary of state Hillary Clinton won during the 2016 presidential election. | Many saw the race as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s administration, with Democrats looking to hold on to the only southern state that former secretary of state Hillary Clinton won during the 2016 presidential election. |
Last year, Trump lost to Clinton in Virginia by a margin of 5.4 percent. In Tuesday's gubernatorial race, Gillespie lost to Northam by a margin of about 6.1 percent, with 80 percent of precincts reporting. | |
Democrats hope the win will set the tone for the 2018 midterm congressional elections. | |
Polls conducted before the election showed Northam leading Gillespie by a wide margin. However, after indecisive remarks about “sanctuary cities,” his lead appeared to dwindle. | Polls conducted before the election showed Northam leading Gillespie by a wide margin. However, after indecisive remarks about “sanctuary cities,” his lead appeared to dwindle. |
Last month, the Latino Victory Fund released an ad showing a white man chasing down minority children in a pickup truck with a Gillespie bumper sticker and a Confederate flag, prompting denunciations from Republicans. | Last month, the Latino Victory Fund released an ad showing a white man chasing down minority children in a pickup truck with a Gillespie bumper sticker and a Confederate flag, prompting denunciations from Republicans. |
Northam’s victory marks the first major win for Democrats since the 2016 presidential election. | |
After Northam was projected to win, Trump tweeted that Gillespie “did not embrace me or what I stand for.” | |
In state legislature elections, polls show Democrats are leading in at least a dozen “contested” elections for state house delegate seats currently held by Republicans, the majority party. Democrats could potentially take the majority of the seats in the house of delegates. |