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| Democrats' double victory in Virginia deals blow to Trump | Democrats' double victory in Virginia deals blow to Trump |
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| State house and senate in Democratic hands, while Kentucky governor vote too close to call | State house and senate in Democratic hands, while Kentucky governor vote too close to call |
| Democrats have taken full control of the legislature in Virginia for the first time in more than two decades as a hotly contested governor’s race in Kentucky remained too close to call, in elections that will be seen as a blow to the president, Donald Trump. | Democrats have taken full control of the legislature in Virginia for the first time in more than two decades as a hotly contested governor’s race in Kentucky remained too close to call, in elections that will be seen as a blow to the president, Donald Trump. |
| In Kentucky, the Democratic challenger, Andy Beshear, declared victory even as the Republican incumbent, Matt Bevin, refused to concede. | In Kentucky, the Democratic challenger, Andy Beshear, declared victory even as the Republican incumbent, Matt Bevin, refused to concede. |
| In Virginia, Democrats won both the state house and state senate, with suburban voters turning out in big numbers to back Democratic candidates, continuing a trend of flipping districts that were once GOP-friendly. Democratic pickups in Virginia occurred in Washington and Richmond suburbs that already had trended in the party’s direction in recent years. | |
| “I’m here to officially declare today, November 5 2019, that Virginia is officially blue,” the Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, told a crowd of supporters in Richmond. | “I’m here to officially declare today, November 5 2019, that Virginia is officially blue,” the Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, told a crowd of supporters in Richmond. |
| Beshear declared himself the winner in Kentucky after securing 49.2% of the vote to Bevin’s 48.8%, telling voters that his performance was a message that elections were still about “right versus wrong” instead of right versus left. As of late Tuesday night, Beshear led Bevin by a margin of more than 5,000 votes. | Beshear declared himself the winner in Kentucky after securing 49.2% of the vote to Bevin’s 48.8%, telling voters that his performance was a message that elections were still about “right versus wrong” instead of right versus left. As of late Tuesday night, Beshear led Bevin by a margin of more than 5,000 votes. |
| But Bevin, who took the stage at the Republican party across town, called it a “close, close race” and said he was not conceding “by any stretch”. “We want the process to be followed, and there is a process,” he said. | But Bevin, who took the stage at the Republican party across town, called it a “close, close race” and said he was not conceding “by any stretch”. “We want the process to be followed, and there is a process,” he said. |
| Bevin, who was elected in 2015, had portrayed the election as a referendum on Trump, who stumped for the governor at a rally in Kentucky on Monday night and called Beshear “too liberal, too extreme and too dangerous”. | Bevin, who was elected in 2015, had portrayed the election as a referendum on Trump, who stumped for the governor at a rally in Kentucky on Monday night and called Beshear “too liberal, too extreme and too dangerous”. |
| At the rally, Trump told the crowd: “If you lose, it sends a really bad message … you can’t let that happen to me.” | At the rally, Trump told the crowd: “If you lose, it sends a really bad message … you can’t let that happen to me.” |
| In a late-night tweet after results came in, Trump appeared to concede the Republican may have lost: “@MattBevin picked up at least 15 points in last days, but perhaps not enough (Fake News will blame Trump!).” | In a late-night tweet after results came in, Trump appeared to concede the Republican may have lost: “@MattBevin picked up at least 15 points in last days, but perhaps not enough (Fake News will blame Trump!).” |
| Despite the last pre-election poll showing the candidates tied at 46%, Bevin was bullish going into the election, telling the New York Times last month that he anticipated winning the election by between six and 10 points. | Despite the last pre-election poll showing the candidates tied at 46%, Bevin was bullish going into the election, telling the New York Times last month that he anticipated winning the election by between six and 10 points. |
| “I think you’re going to be shocked at how uncompetitive this actually is,” he told the paper at the time. | “I think you’re going to be shocked at how uncompetitive this actually is,” he told the paper at the time. |
| But while Trump won Kentucky with more than 60% of the vote in 2016 and remains popular in the state, Bevin – who polls as one of America’s most unpopular governors – could not ride that popularity to victory. | But while Trump won Kentucky with more than 60% of the vote in 2016 and remains popular in the state, Bevin – who polls as one of America’s most unpopular governors – could not ride that popularity to victory. |
| Beshear, the state’s attorney general and the son of Kentucky’s last Democratic governor, made public education the cornerstone of his campaign, choosing a public high school assistant principal as his running mate and accusing Bevin of bullying schoolteachers who protested against proposed pension reforms. | Beshear, the state’s attorney general and the son of Kentucky’s last Democratic governor, made public education the cornerstone of his campaign, choosing a public high school assistant principal as his running mate and accusing Bevin of bullying schoolteachers who protested against proposed pension reforms. |
| Bevin, who accused protesting teachers of acting “thuggish” and said school closures as a result of their actions would lead to children suffering sexual abuse and ingesting poison, said he did not regret his words. Beshear promised he would never bully anybody as governor. | Bevin, who accused protesting teachers of acting “thuggish” and said school closures as a result of their actions would lead to children suffering sexual abuse and ingesting poison, said he did not regret his words. Beshear promised he would never bully anybody as governor. |
| Bevin, meanwhile, fought on broader, national and cultural issues, highlighting his relationship with Trump and his support for the second amendment, while touting himself as the “most pro-life” governor in America. | Bevin, meanwhile, fought on broader, national and cultural issues, highlighting his relationship with Trump and his support for the second amendment, while touting himself as the “most pro-life” governor in America. |
| While Bevin performed well in much of the state, in parts of Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, one could drive by dozens if not hundreds of “Stop Bevin - Vote Beshear!” yard signs before passing any sign of support for the Republican. | While Bevin performed well in much of the state, in parts of Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, one could drive by dozens if not hundreds of “Stop Bevin - Vote Beshear!” yard signs before passing any sign of support for the Republican. |
| At the Democrats’ election party at an event center in the predominantly African-American Louisville neighbourhood of Smoketown, the mood turned from nervous to jovial as returns showed Beshear taking the lead. | At the Democrats’ election party at an event center in the predominantly African-American Louisville neighbourhood of Smoketown, the mood turned from nervous to jovial as returns showed Beshear taking the lead. |
| Kentucky’s race was one of several closely watched elections in states across the US on Tuesday. Republican Daniel Cameron made history in a resounding win in Kentucky’s election for attorney general, becoming the first African American to win the office. | Kentucky’s race was one of several closely watched elections in states across the US on Tuesday. Republican Daniel Cameron made history in a resounding win in Kentucky’s election for attorney general, becoming the first African American to win the office. |
| The elections offered insight into Trump’s popularity among Republicans as he battles an accelerating impeachment inquiry. Democratic-aligned groups pumped huge amounts of money into the contests as a way to test-drive messaging and campaigns ahead of the 2020 cycle, particularly on gun control and clean energy. | The elections offered insight into Trump’s popularity among Republicans as he battles an accelerating impeachment inquiry. Democratic-aligned groups pumped huge amounts of money into the contests as a way to test-drive messaging and campaigns ahead of the 2020 cycle, particularly on gun control and clean energy. |
| Donald Trump rallied Republican voters on Twitter but stayed out of Virginia, which he lost in 2016. | Donald Trump rallied Republican voters on Twitter but stayed out of Virginia, which he lost in 2016. |
| Democrats have pledged that when they take power, they will pass an agenda that Republicans have blocked for years, including stricter gun laws, a higher minimum wage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. | Democrats have pledged that when they take power, they will pass an agenda that Republicans have blocked for years, including stricter gun laws, a higher minimum wage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. |