I am afraid that the R win in Virginia gave other Rs a road map

[question everything]

Distance yourself from Whinny Donny while tip toeing.

[Ocelot II]

1. All politics is local.

What worked in VA won't necessarily work elsewhere.

[question everything]

6. It worked in the California recall elections

The leading R was a clear Trumpist and this is how Newsom came from behind for a smashing victory that was hailed as a roadmap for Virginia.

But, as you say, it was local and should not have been viewed as a model for future elections.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. When it comes to the we Federal level...

Republicans are joined at the hip.

At the State level, Republicans want to repeal laws that have been settled for decades. Once Roe gets overturned, States will continue to go back to pre-Jim Crow days when it comes to Education, Voting, and Civil Rights.

Marriage Equality is on the list too.

[Solly Mack]

3. Youngkin ran the GOP playbook that was used for decades before Trump.

It won't necessarily work everywhere though.

But it does make me wonder if people have forgotten what the GOP was like just a few short years ago.

The overt use of racism and the cloaked use of racism = still the use of racism.

Distancing yourself from an unpopular president/past president is nothing new.

Not wanting your cloaked racism to be connected with overt racism is nothing new.

The GOP distanced themselves from David Duke, at one time, but they still used racist dog-whistles to pander to white voters.

Southern Strategy, Willie Horton, welfare queens, inner-city - and the list goes on.

[blm]

4. 100% correct.

[FBaggins]

7. All true - but not complete

Keep in mind that we underperformed more in NJ than in VA. We just had a bigger cushion to work with.

I confess that I didn't give NJ enough attention, but my perception is that it didn't contain as many local nuances like the Loudoun school board.

[Solly Mack]

8. You would have thought his association with the Carlyle Group might have been a warning of what

was to come regarding how he would campaign.

Or that Shrub did the same - focused on education. Youngkin even borrowed from Shrub - with words and phrases.

Youngkin is every bit like Trump - but then the majority of republicans are - it's simply a matter of differences without any real distinction.

They all land on the same bottom-line.

[Busterscruggs]

5. On a national level

Our ideas are far superior to the rethugs. They have tried and failed at everything. We just need to stay the course and keep pushing our truths, we always do better at that. We have always been smarter than them, but sometimes the messaging falls short.