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| Virginia’s Governor Is Hanging On. He Might Last Another Three Years. | Virginia’s Governor Is Hanging On. He Might Last Another Three Years. |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia apologized. He held the ritual news conference of a humiliated politician, punctuated with a discussion of whether he could still do the moonwalk. He went into seclusion. | RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia apologized. He held the ritual news conference of a humiliated politician, punctuated with a discussion of whether he could still do the moonwalk. He went into seclusion. |
| And so, here he is: diminished, abandoned, condemned — and still the governor of Virginia. | And so, here he is: diminished, abandoned, condemned — and still the governor of Virginia. |
| Mr. Northam, besieged after the revelation of a racist photograph on his medical school yearbook page, may remain that way for the rest of his term, which has almost three more years to run. | Mr. Northam, besieged after the revelation of a racist photograph on his medical school yearbook page, may remain that way for the rest of his term, which has almost three more years to run. |
| [Read more about how blackface, with its roots in demeaning minstrel-show traditions, has persisted in American life.] | |
| Improbable as it may seem, Mr. Northam is increasingly seen in Richmond, a state capital consumed by crisis and speculation, as a scandalized Democrat likely to hang on to his job — with his fortunes bolstered by the troubles of the men in line to succeed him, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring. | Improbable as it may seem, Mr. Northam is increasingly seen in Richmond, a state capital consumed by crisis and speculation, as a scandalized Democrat likely to hang on to his job — with his fortunes bolstered by the troubles of the men in line to succeed him, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring. |
| “The timing of the other scandals certainly helps him, because the spotlight is no longer solely on him, and he is not the only story in town,” said Mark L. Keam, a Democrat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Mr. Keam, who previously called for Mr. Northam’s resignation, emphasized Thursday that the emergence of possible misconduct by the others did nothing to change the governor’s own culpability. | “The timing of the other scandals certainly helps him, because the spotlight is no longer solely on him, and he is not the only story in town,” said Mark L. Keam, a Democrat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Mr. Keam, who previously called for Mr. Northam’s resignation, emphasized Thursday that the emergence of possible misconduct by the others did nothing to change the governor’s own culpability. |
| Hours later, the Statehouse drama widened further with the revelation that Thomas K. Norment Jr., the Republican majority leader in the State Senate, helped edit a college yearbook that featured slurs and racist photographs, including blackface. | Hours later, the Statehouse drama widened further with the revelation that Thomas K. Norment Jr., the Republican majority leader in the State Senate, helped edit a college yearbook that featured slurs and racist photographs, including blackface. |
| [Read how allegations of racism that have besieged Virginia Democrats have spread to a Republican lawmaker.] | |
| But even before the three follow-up scandals — the detailed allegation of sexual assault against Mr. Fairfax, Mr. Herring’s acknowledgment that he had worn blackface, and the disclosure about Mr. Norment’s yearbook — collectively rattled the Virginia Capitol, Mr. Northam had already decided he would ignore his party’s demands and stay in office. | But even before the three follow-up scandals — the detailed allegation of sexual assault against Mr. Fairfax, Mr. Herring’s acknowledgment that he had worn blackface, and the disclosure about Mr. Norment’s yearbook — collectively rattled the Virginia Capitol, Mr. Northam had already decided he would ignore his party’s demands and stay in office. |
| He is far from the first governor to try to defy legions of naysayers within his government, in the Legislature, on editorial pages and on social media. Indeed, one embattled governor after another has attempted, at least initially, to remain in power; Mr. Northam is the third in the South to try it in the last decade. | He is far from the first governor to try to defy legions of naysayers within his government, in the Legislature, on editorial pages and on social media. Indeed, one embattled governor after another has attempted, at least initially, to remain in power; Mr. Northam is the third in the South to try it in the last decade. |
| “These are generally, by definition, competitive, high-achieving people who have worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this position in the first place, and so you could see why they would be reluctant to simply walk away,” said Ross H. Garber, a lawyer who has represented no fewer than four governors who were threatened with impeachment. | “These are generally, by definition, competitive, high-achieving people who have worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this position in the first place, and so you could see why they would be reluctant to simply walk away,” said Ross H. Garber, a lawyer who has represented no fewer than four governors who were threatened with impeachment. |
| “Most successful politicians at high levels have had to withstand huge challenges, sometimes including scandals, to get to that position,” Mr. Garber said. “The instinct is to do what they have done before, and withstand it.” | “Most successful politicians at high levels have had to withstand huge challenges, sometimes including scandals, to get to that position,” Mr. Garber said. “The instinct is to do what they have done before, and withstand it.” |
| Governors live and work in different environments than most other elected officials — surrounded by state troopers, housed in gated and guarded mansions, and insulated by large staffs — and that can fuel their willingness to defy demands for their resignations. | Governors live and work in different environments than most other elected officials — surrounded by state troopers, housed in gated and guarded mansions, and insulated by large staffs — and that can fuel their willingness to defy demands for their resignations. |
| “They don’t have to go to the grocery store and go shopping, and be faced with the average person coming up to them and giving them negative feedback,” said André Bauer, who was South Carolina’s lieutenant governor during a period of political upheaval in 2009. “They’re able to withdraw a little bit during the more difficult times. They have the ability to miss some public appearances and let the public outcry die down a little bit.” | “They don’t have to go to the grocery store and go shopping, and be faced with the average person coming up to them and giving them negative feedback,” said André Bauer, who was South Carolina’s lieutenant governor during a period of political upheaval in 2009. “They’re able to withdraw a little bit during the more difficult times. They have the ability to miss some public appearances and let the public outcry die down a little bit.” |
| Mr. Fairfax, who hurried through the Capitol on Thursday morning, and Mr. Herring may be not be able to pursue the same strategy as Mr. Northam, but their refusals to immediately resign offered the governor a measure of political cover. | Mr. Fairfax, who hurried through the Capitol on Thursday morning, and Mr. Herring may be not be able to pursue the same strategy as Mr. Northam, but their refusals to immediately resign offered the governor a measure of political cover. |
| Mr. Northam, who is barred from running for re-election in 2021, has other reasons to try to stay on. The Republican-controlled General Assembly is not rushing toward impeachment proceedings, there is no criminal inquiry threatening him, and some of his closest allies and advisers, including his wife, have urged him to remain and to seek to clear his name. (Although Mr. Northam initially acknowledged dressing in blackface in 1984, he retracted his admission that he had participated in a racist photograph that showed one person in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe.) | Mr. Northam, who is barred from running for re-election in 2021, has other reasons to try to stay on. The Republican-controlled General Assembly is not rushing toward impeachment proceedings, there is no criminal inquiry threatening him, and some of his closest allies and advisers, including his wife, have urged him to remain and to seek to clear his name. (Although Mr. Northam initially acknowledged dressing in blackface in 1984, he retracted his admission that he had participated in a racist photograph that showed one person in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe.) |
| Some of the governor’s allies have argued that if Mr. Northam can weather the short-term frenzy, the bully pulpit of public office may offer him his surest path to redemption, and to making amends with constituents who feel betrayed. | Some of the governor’s allies have argued that if Mr. Northam can weather the short-term frenzy, the bully pulpit of public office may offer him his surest path to redemption, and to making amends with constituents who feel betrayed. |
| Indeed some of the Democrats who demanded his resignation have already begun curbing the efforts to force him out, and the governor has been meeting with some of his critics. | Indeed some of the Democrats who demanded his resignation have already begun curbing the efforts to force him out, and the governor has been meeting with some of his critics. |
| “I don’t think that he would have invited us if he was not remorseful,” said Dr. Charles Steele Jr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who had previously called for Mr. Northam’s resignation but met with the governor on Wednesday at the Executive Mansion. | “I don’t think that he would have invited us if he was not remorseful,” said Dr. Charles Steele Jr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who had previously called for Mr. Northam’s resignation but met with the governor on Wednesday at the Executive Mansion. |
| Dr. Steele, whose organization’s first president was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said he and the governor discussed reconciliation, and not the politics of a resignation. But Mr. Northam has not had to look far into history for precedents of governors hunkering down in office despite scandals. | Dr. Steele, whose organization’s first president was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said he and the governor discussed reconciliation, and not the politics of a resignation. But Mr. Northam has not had to look far into history for precedents of governors hunkering down in office despite scandals. |
| Robert Bentley of Alabama managed to last more than a year after he was accused of sexual misconduct. In Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of trying to trade away a Senate seat, clung to office until he was impeached and removed by the Legislature. Eric Greitens of Missouri resigned, but only after a rocky four-and-a-half months that included a felony indictment. One of Mr. Northam’s predecessors in Virginia, Robert F. McDonnell, endured some calls for his resignation and finished his term under a legal cloud. (He was later found guilty of conspiracy, bribery and extortion, but the United States Supreme Court overturned his convictions.) | Robert Bentley of Alabama managed to last more than a year after he was accused of sexual misconduct. In Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of trying to trade away a Senate seat, clung to office until he was impeached and removed by the Legislature. Eric Greitens of Missouri resigned, but only after a rocky four-and-a-half months that included a felony indictment. One of Mr. Northam’s predecessors in Virginia, Robert F. McDonnell, endured some calls for his resignation and finished his term under a legal cloud. (He was later found guilty of conspiracy, bribery and extortion, but the United States Supreme Court overturned his convictions.) |
| And Mark Sanford of South Carolina acknowledged an extramarital affair in 2009 but stayed through the end of his term in 2011, and was later elected to Congress. | And Mark Sanford of South Carolina acknowledged an extramarital affair in 2009 but stayed through the end of his term in 2011, and was later elected to Congress. |
| “If you really go back and look at it in an even-keeled way, Sanford benefited from staying in office,” said Mr. Bauer, who stood to succeed Mr. Sanford. “Had Sanford just resigned, it would have been great for André, but he would have left on a low point. He stayed in office and reinvented himself with the time he had left. History will judge him on his whole period, and not just leaving office.” | “If you really go back and look at it in an even-keeled way, Sanford benefited from staying in office,” said Mr. Bauer, who stood to succeed Mr. Sanford. “Had Sanford just resigned, it would have been great for André, but he would have left on a low point. He stayed in office and reinvented himself with the time he had left. History will judge him on his whole period, and not just leaving office.” |
| Mr. Northam’s legacy has certainly figured in his deliberations, perhaps especially because he is not expected to seek political office again. | Mr. Northam’s legacy has certainly figured in his deliberations, perhaps especially because he is not expected to seek political office again. |
| Other observers believe that Mr. Northam calculated that he would not have to wait long for the hot spotlight of public outrage to find a new target. | Other observers believe that Mr. Northam calculated that he would not have to wait long for the hot spotlight of public outrage to find a new target. |
| “In hashtag culture, Northam’s got to be thinking, ‘Next week, somebody’s going to do something,’” said Jeff Smith, a former Missouri state senator who resigned on the day he pleaded guilty to two felony counts. “It’s only a matter of time before someone else takes their turn in the barrel.” | “In hashtag culture, Northam’s got to be thinking, ‘Next week, somebody’s going to do something,’” said Jeff Smith, a former Missouri state senator who resigned on the day he pleaded guilty to two felony counts. “It’s only a matter of time before someone else takes their turn in the barrel.” |
| That may prove true. And Mr. Garber, the impeachment specialist, noted that there is no “one size fits all” scandal. | That may prove true. And Mr. Garber, the impeachment specialist, noted that there is no “one size fits all” scandal. |
| “Sometimes gravity prevails, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “It depends on the situation.” | “Sometimes gravity prevails, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “It depends on the situation.” |