Why Virginia's 2021 elections are a good 2022 tea leaf
CNN
Last week, Glenn Youngkin earned the Republican nomination for this year's Virginia governor's race. Virginia, along with New Jersey, hosts the only gubernatorial elections this year. Voters throughout the Old Dominion will also be casting ballots in legislative elections.
And while Virginia is just one state (or commonwealth), the outcome in these races could give us a real clue about where the national political environment stands heading into the 2022 midterms. If Republicans do well this year, it could be a good sign for them next year. Virginia's unique in that no person can serve as governor more than one term in a row. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam must step down after this term, meaning the seat is open, and neither Youngskin nor whoever the Democrats choose as their candidate in next month's primary (probably former Gov. Terry McAuliffe) will have a clear incumbency advantage.
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