It's Not That Democrats Lost. It's That They Lost Everywhere
In an early vote of no-confidence in the Biden presidency, Republicans made inroads among suburban and Hispanic voters, while expanding their already long reach into rural precincts.
https://www.governing.com/now/its-not-that-democrats-lost-its-that-they-lost-everywhereFour years ago, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney survived the most expensive legislative race in American history, a $25 million brawl with the New Jersey Education Association. On Tuesday, it appears he lost his seat to Edward Durr, a truck driver who spent $153 on his challenge.
Sweeney wasn’t the only New Jersey Democrat to lose his seat, although the party held onto its legislative majorities. It also appears that Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy narrowly survived a surprisingly strong challenge from Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican former assemblyman.
But the fact that Republicans were able to score gains in an overwhelmingly blue state – Joe Biden carried New Jersey by 16 percentage points last year – points to trouble for Democrats all around the country heading into next year’s midterms. Democrats lost in all kinds of areas where they normally win, from South Texas to South Jersey and Long Island.
“These results should be an alarm clock rousing us from sleep," said Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democratic congressman. "If we don’t deliver then we won’t deserve to govern.”
Republican Glenn Youngkin’s victory in the Virginia governor’s race was the top story out of Tuesday, but looking ahead, the bigger danger for Democrats is that Republicans made gains everywhere – among suburbanites, rural voters and Hispanics.
