Bolling: Virginia Hasn’t Turned Red Yet

By Bill Bolling

Many of my Republican friends, in an understandable celebratory mood, have boldly proclaimed that Virginia went from being a blue state to a red state this week.

In the words of ESPN college football analyst Lou Corso, “Not so fast my friends, not so fast…..”

Republicans had a very good day on Tuesday, and celebration is in order; but winning one election does not offset losing for the last 12 years. Let’s not forget that Virginia still has two Democratic U.S. Senators, seven Democratic members in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a Democratic majority in the State Senate.

And the Republican presidential nominee has not carried Virginia since 2004.

I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer, but let’s have a reality check here.

For Virginia to once again become a red state there is a lot more work to be done and many more elections to be won. Celebrate? Sure, but don’t get irrationally over confident. The Democrats made that mistake in 2019, and look where that got them.

Bill Bolling spent 22 years in elected office including eight years as Virginia Lieutenant Governor. He now teaches government and politics at George Mason University, University of Richmond, and Virginia Commonwealth University.