The election result is a warning to Democrats: "Voters are clearly dissatisfied," say experts

By Jonathan Allen -

Democrats have plenty of scapegoats to blame for the Republican Party's victories in Tuesday's election - including the president himself, Joe Biden - but they don't have a strategy to overcome.

The good news for Democrats is that the November 2022 midterm elections will be a year away, where control of Congress will be resolved.

The bad news is that they are already fighting over what went wrong.

The result threatens to further stumble the effort to advance the president's agenda.

Glenn Youngkin campaigning to become Governor of Virginia on Oct. 27, 2021.Steve Helber / AP

A year after Biden won easily in Virginia and New Jersey, the political climate has turned around.

Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to win Virginia governor since 2009, and the state House of Delegates also passed into Republican hands;

and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy unexpectedly finds himself defending his position to Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

"How has Biden's 10-point victory [lead] in Virginia evaporated in one year?" Asked Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, referring to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe's failed effort to regain office more. important state.

"There are many threads to examine to prepare for next year," he added.

Democrats, disorganized

Democrats contributed, in part, to the Republicans' success: Biden's low approval ratings, infighting that has stalled his agenda in Congress, and his inability to counter Republican attacks on mask-wearing mandates.

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But few addressed voters' concern about high inflation, which Democratic leaders in Congress insist will not continue to rise thanks to their plans to pump $ 3 trillion into the economy over the next decade.

The results divided even more ideologically the moderate and progressive wings of the party, which vie for influence over the president.

Meanwhile, the two pillars of Biden's national agenda languish on Capitol Hill: a bipartisan $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and a $ 1.75 trillion climate emergency and social spending measure.

What message does the Republican victory in Virginia send after the elections?

An expert analyzes it

Nov. 3, 202105: 14

"More Virginians would have voted Democrats if they had daycare and if Democrats had achieved what we promised for years: cheaper prescriptions, paid family leave, long-term care for the elderly, and tax-paid dental and vision care to billionaires." the Campaign Committee for Progressive Change said in a statement.

"Terry McAuliffe sadly can blame his loss on a few obstructionist Democrats aligned with the corporations who blocked bold action in Congress, as well as his own reliance on Trump's backward messages," he added.

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"Undecided voters have long expressed concern that President Biden, even though they may personally like him, will not be able to stand up to the outdated elements of the progressive wing of his own party," said the adviser. "His inability to deliver. something as simple as infrastructure was proof of the worst fears of undecided voters about the Biden presidency. "

Trump savors victory

For Republicans, the results represent a rejection of Democratic leadership at the national and state levels.

They claim that they now have the formula to conquer other states.

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Nov. 3, 202100: 23

"Youngkin's victory in Virginia should serve as a wake-up call to Democrats around the world that an epic wave is on the way," warned John Ashbrook, a former adviser to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Voters are clearly dissatisfied with the direction our country is taking and are willing to exercise their right to change it," he said.

Trump savored Youngkin's victory - despite not being invited to campaign - and delivered a barrage of statements praising himself and punishing Democrats.

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The biggest risk for Democrats is misreading the political moment and not adjusting to it before voters go to the polls across the country next year.

According to former Republican Congressman David Jolly, who left the party after leaving Congress, they are watching the wrong indicators.

"I say this with respect, but there is a lot of deliberate ignorance tonight," he said.

"Inflation has risen, Congressional Democrats are disorganized, COVID-19 is ping-ponging, and the Taliban are back," he listed.