“in what is now a strong-blue state”
Virginia is still purple. Republicans have both chambers of the general assembly and 8 of 11 US House seats. We had all 3 executive offices last time and McAuliffe only won because dems fabricated lies about the GOP hov, Mcdonnell.
I guess it can go either way. The election that they will be comparing it to though, was the Trump/Clinton election, where Clinton won the state by over 5 points. That’s what led to my comment.