After Weeks Of Hard Work, Democrats Have Managed To Preserve The Progress They Made In Virginia

     Virginia was an important state for Democrats for one big reason: it was a testing ground for progressive policies in the South. Between 2020 and 2022, Democrats, with full control of the legislature and the governor's mansion, saw Virginia become the first Southern state to abolish the death penalty, legalize marijuana, raise the minimum wage to $15, cap the cost of insulin, mandate carbon neutrality by 2050, pass landmark LGBT2SQIA+ protections in line with those of states like California and New York, and on and on and on, from animal welfare to criminal justice reform, voting rights protection, and police reform. 

     When Republicans gained control of the executive branch and the Virginia Assembly, it appeared all was lost. That is not the case. With two special elections, Democrats have managed to maintain a slim majority in the Virginia Senate. With this, Governor Glenn Youngkin will be unable to roll back worker rights, restrict reproductive and voting rights, ban CRT, or enact any other of the smattering of despicable GOP excuses for policies.

     There is a moderate Democrat, raising fears of a Joe Manchin-type figure who could tie the vote and allow the lieutenant governor to break the tie. Recently, he made clear that that is not his intent. He will not reverse any of the policies instituted by Democrats between 2020 and 2022, and he will only negotiate with Youngkin and other Republicans on two issues: taxes and education, with the former being limited to tax cuts for the middle class, not the wealthy and corporations.

     For now, it appears Glenn Youngkin has been politically neutered. We need to focus on winning Virginia's legislature back completely in 2023 and getting the governor's mansion in 2025 (with Youngkin being prevented from running for a second consecutive term by the state constitution). For now, Democrats can breathe a sigh of relief and prepare for two years of opposition work in Virginia.