Jennifer Wexton wins Virginia Senate special election to succeed Mark Herring

LoudounTimes ^ | Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 | Trevor Baratko

[Coronal]

Democrat Jennifer Wexton bested two veteran Loudoun County politicians Tuesday night to earn a seat in the Senate of Virginia and almost assuredly give Virginia Democrats majority power in Richmond for the first time since 2009.

Ms. Wexton's victory over Republican John Whitbeck and former Republican state Del. Joe May, running his Senate race as an independent, caps a momentous two months for Democrats in Virginia, whom last November swept the top three offices in the commonwealth – the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general posts – for the first time in two decades.

[crusher]

Not really, as Wexford won a clear majority. The idiot spoiler had no impact on the race. The voters willfully chose a collectivist hustler.

[crusher]

Wexton, you dope.

[kabar]

Foreign born does not necessarily mean 100% democrat. Yours truly is foreign born and voted republican in every election since 1968 Nixon.

Whoever said the foreign-born, including my wife, voted 100% Democrat? We do know that immigrants vote two to one or higher Dem. And 87% of the 1.2 million LEGAL IMMIGRANTS who enter annually are minorities as defined by the USG. Immigrants and minorities vote overwhelmingly Dem The more of them, the more the Dems win races.

But what that means is repubs need a smarter candidate who can appeal to more people. Winning is the only thing...Vince Lombardi. Losers, no matter how principled, have zero power to change anything.

So how do you appeal to them? By being more like the Dems?

[kabar]

Another Democrat idiot gets into office because of a spoiler 'independent'.

Let's get real. The Dem candidate received 53% of the vote. The other 47% loses regardless of how many candidates there are.

And let's talk about the 33rd district. The vacancy was created because a Dem, Mark Herring, was elected AG. It is a solid Dem district. It went 59%-39% for Obama in 2012 and for Kaine 60%-40%. It was redistricted in 2011 making it more Dem. Herring won his race in 2011 54%-46%.

It is 57% white, 10% black, 21% Asian, and 12% other. It is 20% Hispanic who can be of any race.

The Rep was always the underdog in this race. I don't understand all of the hand-wringing about the loss, which was expected. VA is purple trending solid blue, It is just a matter of demographics. The numbers are against us and it will get worse as every cohort that turns 18 is more Dem than the previous one.

[DoodleDawg]

Spitting the Republican vote would seem to be the issue here. Like the recent gubernatorial race.

Probably not. She took 53% of the vote.

[entropy12]

You appeal to them by explaining in “simple to understand language” why republicans are better for them. Majority of immigrants arrive to better themselves. IOW to move up the economic ladder.

I have seldom ever seen ANY republican explain the economic difference between democrats and repubs. I was a solid dem when I arrived, rooted for LBJ big time over Goldwater. But I was not yet a citizen at that time. I was smart enough to figure out quickly how the democrats were impeding my economic progress through taxation.

On another issue...religion & abortion. Many of the immigrants arriving are not Christians. And abortion is practiced in every country of Europe & Asia. It is just an accepted way of life there. When a candidate such as Cuccinelli makes an issue out of it, he loses votes. Why make an issue of it during the campaign? It riles up not only immigrants but majority of women. Until there is a change in the population’s thinking on abortion, it is not a winning issue in most statewide races and certainly not nationally. Leave it alone. First get elected. Losing to democrats pushes the issue further back. Why is this so difficult to understand?

[kabar]

You appeal to them by explaining in “simple to understand language” why republicans are better for them. Majority of immigrants arrive to better themselves. IOW to move up the economic ladder.

Lower taxes and limited government do not appeal to the majority of them. They favor Big Government and the benefits it offers. Immigrants use the welfare system to a much greater extent than the native born. Milton Friedman said that, “You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.” We have both.

I have seldom ever seen ANY republican explain the economic difference between democrats and repubs. I was a solid dem when I arrived, rooted for LBJ big time over Goldwater. But I was not yet a citizen at that time. I was smart enough to figure out quickly how the democrats were impeding my economic progress through taxation.

Anecdotal information only goes so far. We have 45 million foreign-born in this country. Times have changed since LBJ. The U.S. adds one international migrant (net) every 40 seconds. Immigrants account for one in 8 U.S. residents, the highest level in more than 90 years. In 1970 it was one in 21; in 1980 it was one in 16; and in 1990 it was one in 13. In a decade, it will be one in 7, the highest it has been in our history.

The nation’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached 40 million in 2010, the highest number in our history. The U.S. immigrant population has doubled since 1990, nearly tripled since 1980, and quadrupled since 1970, when it stood at 9.7 million. Of the 40 million immigrants in the country in 2010, 13.9 million arrived in 2000 or later making it the highest decade of immigration in American history, even though there was a net loss of jobs during the decade. Growth in the immigrant population has primarily been driven by high levels of legal immigration. Roughly three-fourths of immigrants in the country are here legally. With nearly 12 million immigrants, Mexico was by far the top immigrant-sending country, accounting for 29 percent of all immigrants and 29 percent of growth in the immigrant population from 2000 to 2010. The median age of immigrants in 2010 was 41.4 compared to 35.9 for natives.

On another issue...religion & abortion. Many of the immigrants arriving are not Christians. And abortion is practiced in every country of Europe & Asia. It is just an accepted way of life there.

Abortion is not practiced in Muslim countries. And the US has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world. The United States is only one of four countries in the entire world which allows late term abortions to be performed, and for any reason. As Kirsten Powers pointed out in her piece, “I Don’t Stand with Wendy Davis,”

"One can assume I am also not the only woman in America who is really tiring of the Wendys of the world claiming to represent “women’s rights” in their quest to mainstream a medical procedure—elective late-term abortion—that most of the civilized world finds barbaric and abhorrent. In many European countries, you can’t get an abortion past 12 weeks, except in narrow circumstances."

The abortion rate in Europe is lower than in the US.

When a candidate such as Cuccinelli makes an issue out of it, he loses votes. Why make an issue of it during the campaign? It riles up not only immigrants but majority of women.

The Democrats always raise the social issues first. It is part of their narrative about the Reps War on Women. Unlimited abortion is not as popular as you might think. Over 80% of Americans are against late-term abortions. Wendy Davis was pushing against a law in Texas that would prevent abortions beyond 20 weeks, which would still place the US in the very most liberal category when it comes to abortion. If Cuccinelli and any other pro-life person is confronted on the issue, why should they not state their position? We are talking about the preservation and sanctity of human life.

Until there is a change in the population’s thinking on abortion, it is not a winning issue in most statewide races and certainly not nationally. Leave it alone. First get elected. Losing to democrats pushes the issue further back. Why is this so difficult to understand?

Why is it so difficult to understand that the Dems and the MSM make this the central issue against pro-life Reps? They are the ones who raise the issue, not the Reps. The MSM aids and abets the Dems every time there is a political debate.

[wardaddy]

Virginia

Lost Cause State Part Deux

[wardaddy]

Foreign born today means minimum 75-80% chance that person will vote democrat

Those are great gambling odds

They are pandered too and often given status as non white preferential

[wardaddy]

Mississippi is 40% black

White conservatives still hold power because they know what is at stake and hang together....rather than separately

Virginia whites are ...to some degree....collaborators or just stupid.

No offense to those caught in the morass

Good Virginians and Yankees should move to Texas and north Carolina where there is hope

When the Great Reset comes Virginia....most of it....will be lost to the other side anyhow

Never again put a capital so close to the enemy........

[MHGinTN]

It is astonishing to me that coal miners, actually out of work coal miners in Virginia, still vote for the democrips!

[boycott]

Let’s get real. The Dem candidate received 53% of the vote. The other 47% loses regardless of how many candidates there are.

---

I am not buying that.

(1) You had two candidates basically running against and attacking the republican candidate — one being a former republican.

(2) If it was so expected as you state, some discouraged voters may have just stayed home.

(3) A third candidate often takes focus off the two candidates that have the greatest chance to win. The third candidate was a distraction that I am sure the democrat appreciated.

[wardaddy]

Old habits....working man delusions

[kabar]

Virginia whites are ...to some degree....collaborators or just stupid

Cuccinelli received 56% of the white vote compared to 36% for McAwful and 8% for Sarvis. Cuccinelli won 58% of the white male vote and 54% of the white female vote.

Mississippi is 40% black White conservatives still hold power because they know what is at stake and hang together....rather than separately

Turnout is key. If blacks in MS ever start turning out in rates anywhere near whites, then the political balance will shift. VA is 20% black.

[bmwcyle]

No, she ran on saving aborting. Women voted her into office.

[entropy12]

Again...my MAIN point is republican politicians are very poor communicators. IMHO the best communicator from the current crop in news for 2016 is Rand Paul. But even he is not up to my liking. I know hundreds and hundreds of immigrants. Most are under the mis-conception that democrats will look out for them. Most are working very hard to move up the ladder.

So obviously, republicans have failed to explain the economic facts. As for abortion, it was unheard of during my upbringing in India. I grew up with a very large number of relatives since I had dozens of aunts and uncles, all very close. Never heard of a single abortion. However if it was needed due to medical reasons, I do not recall any one would be opposed to it.

As for late term abortions...I consider it murder in the first degree. It is extremely cruel, premeditated and conspiracy between the abortionist and the pregnant woman. But again, stupid comments by Akin and Mourdock types harm the issue.

[entropy12]

You are correct and I blame it on very poor communication by republicans.

[kabar]

I am not buying that.

LOL. You don't need no stinkin' facts. I provided you with the demographics of the 33rd District. A Dem held the seat until he was elected AG, which caused the vacancy. The district went overwhelmingly for Obama. Herring won the district in 2011 by essentially the same margin as Wexton did in 2014.

(1) You had two candidates basically running against and attacking the republican candidate — one being a former republican.

The Rep only received 37% of the vote and Sarvis almost 10%. Do the math. 53% of the electorate voted for Wexton.

(2) If it was so expected as you state, some discouraged voters may have just stayed home.

Most voters stayed home. It was a special election. Turnout was about 20%. We also had a major snowstorm. The candidate who wins usually does the best job of turning out the vote. In NoVA, the Dems have the best GOTV machine. And they also happen to have the majority of the voters. It is a hard combination to beat.

(3) A third candidate often takes focus off the two candidates that have the greatest chance to win. The third candidate was a distraction that I am sure the democrat appreciated.

The Democrats didn't need a distraction to win. What you seem to be missing is that NoVA is predominantly Dem. In the VA suburbs around DC, McAwful won 62% to 33% over Cuccinelli. One third of the voters live in NoVA. The Dems build up huge margins in NoVA and the cities where many of the blacks live (20% of the state electorate) and it is now impossible for the Reps to get enough votes in the rest of the state to overcome that cushion.

NoVA is the fastest growing region of the state. It is also the wealthiest. It is becoming like Philadelphia or Detroit when it comes to dominating statewide election results. We are being outnumbered hence the shift of VA to a blue state. I don't see anyway a Rep wins VA in a Presidential race, where turnout is the highest. I have lived in VA for 34 years. The state has changed dramatically primarily due to demographics.

[kabar]

Again...my MAIN point is republican politicians are very poor communicators. IMHO the best communicator from the current crop in news for 2016 is Rand Paul. But even he is not up to my liking. I know hundreds and hundreds of immigrants. Most are under the mis-conception that democrats will look out for them. Most are working very hard to move up the ladder.

It is not a misconception. The Dems are looking out for them when it comes to providing them with benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, housing, EITC, etc. Immigrants have a vested interest in keeping the welfare state going as the data I provided to you show. They fit the Dem constituency.

When Reps talk about reducing the size of government, decreasing taxes, etc. it doesn't resonate with them.

And there is a tribal aspect to all of this. The Dems have made themselves the party of minorities. They support things like affirmative action and minority business set asides that incentivizes immigrants to identify as minorities. 87% of the 1.2 million legal immigrants who enter annually are minorities as classified by the USG. An immigrant from Nigeria or Mexico or China receives these real benefits because they are minorities. It gives them a leg up over the non-Hispanic white native born. Is this a great country or what?

Since the 1965 Immigration Act, our pro-population growth immigration policies have fueled major demographic changes in a very short period of time. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites comprised 89 percent of the population; today they are 66 percent; and by 2042, they will be 50 percent. The Democrats, under the banner of multiculturalism and diversity, have forged a political coalition that depends on individuals coalescing around racial and ethnic identities rather than the issues. The continuing and increasing flow of minority immigrants, mostly poor and uneducated, provides a natural constituency for the Democrats, which see them as their principal source of political power.

Our current immigration policies are not bringing in skills we need to be competitive in the global economy. And the numbers exceed what we require. We don't need hundreds of thousands of high school dropouts each year.

Never heard of a single abortion. However if it was needed due to medical reasons, I do not recall any one would be opposed to it.

In India, you cannot get an abortion beyond 20 weeks. And there are specific conditions by law that allow you to get an abortion. It is not just by request like it is in the US.

According to the Consortium on National Consensus for Medical Abortion in India, every year an average of about 11 million pregnancies are medically terminated, and 20,000 women die every year due to abortion related complications. Most abortion-related maternal deaths are attributable to illegal abortions.

Giving or taking prenatal tests, including ultrasound scanning, solely to determine the sex of the fetus was criminalized by Indian law in 1994. In 2002, the penalties were stiffened: up to three years in jail and a INR10,000 fine for the first offense and five years imprisonment and INR50,000 for the second.

As for late term abortions...I consider it murder in the first degree. It is extremely cruel, premeditated and conspiracy between the abortionist and the pregnant woman. But again, stupid comments by Akin and Mourdock types harm the issue.

They were talking mainly about pregnancy as the result of rape. Yes, they should be circumspect on how it should be discussed, but they should not back away from their principles. According to a National Journal poll, 50 percent of women support, and 43 percent oppose, a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, except in cases of rape and incest. A pro-life position on abortion can be a winning issue if communicated properly.

[entropy12]

Most of the immigrants I know are from India. Indian immigrants in US have the highest income per person of any other major ethnic group, including US born whites, Jews, Chinese immigrants, Native Americans, Hispanics etc. So the people I know are not on food stamps and other welfare. They are mostly all doing well economically and should be voting republican.

But still majority votes democrat. I am guessing for reasons I explained before.