Virginia Mega Thread: The Youngkin Administration

[Skill and Chance]

Interesting that it's the exact opposite pattern compared to the federal level.

Democrats lost 13 seats in 2001 even as Warner won because the GOP controlled redistricting.

The same was true in 2011.

2023 is the first election since 1999 conducted on a map the GOP didn't draw.

I mean yes we can argue on multiple curves, but if the GOP had a trifecta that drew the maps odds are the GOP would have gained 5-7 with these statewide results depending on how defensive the GOP wanted to be.

For the State Senate it's:

1995 Allen (R): R+2
*R's gain a seat in a special election, control flips R*
1999 Gilmore (R): EVEN
2003 Warner (D): R+3
2007 Kaine (D): D+5 Control Flips D
*D's gain a seat in a special election*
2011 McDonnell (R): R+2 Control Flips R
*Northam (D) becomes LG in January 2014, Control Flips D*
*R's gain a seat in a special election in August 2014, Control Flips back R*
2015 McAuliffe (D): EVEN
2019 Northam (D): D+2 Control Flips D
*D's gain a seat in a special election*
2023 Youngkin (R): R+1

As you can see, there's a lot more going on here.  Other than the one term between the 2003 and 2007 elections, the 40 seat chamber has been within 22/18 either way since 1992 and there has only ever been one true wave election in that period (2007 for Dems).  Also, special elections have been hugely important for control.

[brucejoel99]

https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1723483423535157476

https://twitter.com/jaaavis/status/1730690310500487340https://twitter.com/senatorhashmi/status/1730699321769709901

[Skill and Chance]

https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1723483423535157476

https://twitter.com/jaaavis/status/1730690310500487340https://twitter.com/senatorhashmi/status/1730699321769709901

Good.  The people just voted for her.  The proper time to challenge something like this is in advance of the election.

[wbrocks67]

Recount is over in VA, Pope Adams (D) lost by only 53 votes

https://twitter.com/DKElections/status/1737518657561887041

[Frodo]

I see Gov. Glenn Youngkin is picking up where former Gov. Jim Gilmore left off.  Good timing too:

Youngkin exploring repeal of 'hated' car tax

More than 20 years after then-Gov. Jim Gilmore failed to fully repeal the so-called "car tax," another Republican governor is preparing to take a swing at the local government levy on personal vehicles that Virginians love to hate.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin confirmed on Tuesday that he is considering proposals to do away with the local tax on personal property - which he called "the most hated tax in Virginia" - by finding new sources of revenue for local governments to replace it.

“It is despised to such a universal degree that there is nothing I hear more complaints about as I travel across the commonwealth of Virginia than the car tax,” Youngkin said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Eliminating the car tax is a complicated and challenging endeavor,” the governor said. “I believe there is a path to eliminate it, but it requires full cooperation from Republicans and Democrats, executive branch and legislators, local leaders and state leaders in order to take the big step of permanently eliminating this most hated tax."

And for those without a subscription to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

[Frodo]

By a unanimous bipartisan vote, the House of Delegates has just elected an African American as Speaker, the first in the state's history:

Don Scott becomes first Black speaker in Virginia Legislature's 400-year history

[LabourJersey]

I see Gov. Glenn Youngkin is picking up where former Gov. Jim Gilmore left off.  Good timing too:

Youngkin exploring repeal of 'hated' car tax

More than 20 years after then-Gov. Jim Gilmore failed to fully repeal the so-called "car tax," another Republican governor is preparing to take a swing at the local government levy on personal vehicles that Virginians love to hate.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin confirmed on Tuesday that he is considering proposals to do away with the local tax on personal property - which he called "the most hated tax in Virginia" - by finding new sources of revenue for local governments to replace it.

“It is despised to such a universal degree that there is nothing I hear more complaints about as I travel across the commonwealth of Virginia than the car tax,” Youngkin said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Eliminating the car tax is a complicated and challenging endeavor,” the governor said. “I believe there is a path to eliminate it, but it requires full cooperation from Republicans and Democrats, executive branch and legislators, local leaders and state leaders in order to take the big step of permanently eliminating this most hated tax."

And for those without a subscription to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The personal property tax may be hated, but where are they going to make the revenue?

Any "hated" tax exists because there isn't or wasn't a viable alternative for tax revenue.

[Person Man]

I see Gov. Glenn Youngkin is picking up where former Gov. Jim Gilmore left off.  Good timing too:

Youngkin exploring repeal of 'hated' car tax

More than 20 years after then-Gov. Jim Gilmore failed to fully repeal the so-called "car tax," another Republican governor is preparing to take a swing at the local government levy on personal vehicles that Virginians love to hate.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin confirmed on Tuesday that he is considering proposals to do away with the local tax on personal property - which he called "the most hated tax in Virginia" - by finding new sources of revenue for local governments to replace it.

“It is despised to such a universal degree that there is nothing I hear more complaints about as I travel across the commonwealth of Virginia than the car tax,” Youngkin said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Eliminating the car tax is a complicated and challenging endeavor,” the governor said. “I believe there is a path to eliminate it, but it requires full cooperation from Republicans and Democrats, executive branch and legislators, local leaders and state leaders in order to take the big step of permanently eliminating this most hated tax."

And for those without a subscription to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The personal property tax may be hated, but where are they going to make the revenue?

Any "hated" tax exists because there isn't or wasn't a viable alternative for tax revenue.

It probably makes what? A few hundred million a year for the state?