Was Virginia being "safe dem as Illinois, New York, etc" meme the worst take in recent history?

[Skill and Chance]

Illinois also elected a Republican Governor in a red wave midterm and we saw New York nearly do it too, so the 2021 results don't disprove this. I wouldn't say it is as safe but it is a Dem state, not a swing state, going forward.

Yep, governor is never totally off limits for the out party. 

[Skill and Chance]

Illinois also elected a Republican Governor in a red wave midterm and we saw New York nearly do it too, so the 2021 results don't disprove this. I wouldn't say it is as safe but it is a Dem state, not a swing state, going forward.

Yep, governor is never totally off limits for the out party. 

Except the entire ticket won

Odd year elections extend the "less traditionally partisan" benefit to the out party to pretty much every office on the ballot.  VA legislature has always been 10+ years behind shifts in the presidential numbers.