Close Gubernatorial Elections take Center Stage in Election 2021

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (right) speaks with a New Jersey congressman while awaiting President Joe Biden to take the stage at a Build Back Better event in Newark, New Jersey on October 25th (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography).

Virginia and New Jersey are two of only five states that hold elections in years that differ from those holding presidential or congressional mid-term elections.

Article by Garrett Whitton, Junior White House Correspondent

TRENTON, NJ - Imagine returning from an enjoyable vacation just to come home to bad news. After spending time in Europe the past week and having successful conversations with other world leaders regarding climate change and more, President Joe Biden returned to the White House in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 3rd. During his flight back, a dramatic vote count was occurring to determine the winners of the gubernatorial race in Virginia and New Jersey. The outcomes have started to worry the President, his administration, and the democratic party in Washington, DC.

Virginia and New Jersey are two of only five states that hold elections in years that differ from those holding presidential or congressional mid-term elections. These so-called “off-year elections” have stemmed from the idea that they are less likely to be influenced by federal authority. Indeed, the recent elections were not affected by any outside source. Instead, they have let the administration know where the country’s headspace currently is.

In the 2010 midterm elections, during Barack Obama’s presidency, a surge of republican victories transpired. Voters thought electing a republican would help the country escape The Great Recession (2007-2009) and avoid more effects of the Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately, this did not bode well for the left, and most are worried that history will repeat itself, considering the outcomes over the past few days.

Their fear escalated when Glenn Youngkin (R) became Virginia’s governor-elect on Tuesday, November 2nd, after defeating Terry McAuliffe (D) in an area that has been primarily democratic. McAuliffe, who has been Virginia’s governor before, had difficulty exciting potential voters because of Biden’s approval rating, which has plummeted since his inauguration. Until the beginning of August, the President’s approval rating has fluctuated between 55% and 50%. However, since his withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, inflation, and his trouble getting things passed in Congress, the number has dropped to 43%.

Once the news broke about Youngkin’s victory, Democrats began hoping that Gov. Phil Murphy (D) would be reelected in New Jersey. Otherwise, the party feared that they could be taken over in Congress. Fortunately for them, he won. It is all coming as a surprise to them, considering Biden had defeated Trump by ten points in the same area only a year prior. With his win, Youngkin has become the first Republican to win a statewide office in Virginia since 2009.

After a press conference on Wednesday, November 3rd, where he discussed the FDA’s authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11, President Biden was asked about his reaction to the outcome in Virginia and how much he thinks he is responsible for his party’s loss. However, he believes that this would not be an issue if Congress had passed his agenda before votes were cast.

“I think [agenda] should have passed before election day,” the President said. “But, I am not sure that I would have been able to change the number of very conservative folks that turned out and the red districts who were Trump voters. But, maybe.”

As of now, the Democrats have a five-vote margin in the house and only one more vote in the senate. They celebrate the reelection of Gov. Phil Murphy after a close race against Jack Ciattarelli (R) as they competed for the governor’s office in New Jersey. Though there has already been a republican victory in Virginia, another one would have intensified the left’s fear of losing control in the coming months as the country approaches the mid-term elections. They continue to hope that another deluge of republican wins does not happen just as there were in 2010.