NOVEMBER 2017 OPINION
WHY GILLESPIE LOST, AND WHERE REPUBLICANS GO FROM HERE
Alex Szymczak Guest Writer Most residents of Virginia do not realize they are in the midst of a major political shift. Virginia, a historically red state, has voted blue ever since Barack Obama’s election in 2008. Republicans seem unable to turn out enough of their base to sway the tide back in their favor and rural Virginia is becoming increasingly shadowed by northern suburbs like our own Fairfax County. Ralph Northam’s election on Nov. 7 further cements the notion of Democratic dominance within our state. As a Gillespie supporter, I was initially disappointed by his loss; however, the bigger question at hand for the Republican Party is how to handle the election results. Was this simply a realignment that Virginia has been experiencing for almost a decade now? Or was the Virginia gubernatorial campaign and other various seats lost evidence of a referendum on Trump and his influence on the Republican brand? According to The Washington Post, forty-two percent of all voters identified as “moderate(s)”, and sixty-four percent of that group voted for Northam. Additionally, Politico found that “Half of Virginia voters said Trump was a reason for their vote — with twice as many saying they were voting to oppose Trump (34 percent) as to support him (17 percent).” Ed Gillespie did not lose solely because of Virginia’s changing political environment; rather, he lost because the Democratic Party has found
COVER 13
Politico found, and vote in opposition to the president. It would seem that the Republicans, after all of their gains last year, are stuck between a rock and a hard place. With the midterms approaching rapidly, the appearance of a solution seems unlikely. My experience with Gillespie fist bumps the Hayfield mascot during the the Gillespie campaign Homecoming game on Oct. 6, 2017. Photo by Maggie Markon has bestowed upon a unifying message in opposition me incredible insight into the workings towards the president and his party. of a party operating in the face of Ever since the 2016 election, considerable opposition. I have come Republicans running for office have to terms with the fact that I live in found themselves at a crossroads: do a solidly blue county. This is not to we embrace or reject President Trump? imply that I am somehow antagonized Ed Gillespie seemed to try and ride the or annoyed; rather, being a Gillespie middle line with the President tweeting supporter within Fairfax provides me favorably about him but not having opportunities to develop a defense of my the POTUS accompany him on the personal ideology and form friendships campaign trail. Clearly this was not with folks on the other side of the aisle. enough to turn out stronger numbers There is an exciting and invigorating than his opponent. As a volunteer, I feeling to have your beliefs put to the became accustomed to only handing out test of debate. Whether in class or the a dozen or so sample Republican ballots lunchroom, this past election has aided during absentee voting and received my personal development as a politically minimal positive responses during active citizen and my character in canvassing efforts. general. I can not wait to see what the So what do Republicans do? If they 2018 midterms have in store. reach out to moderates and disavow the president, they will almost certainly lose votes they picked up during the 2016 election on the Trump side. Conversely, if they go full Trumpian and try to pump up their base, they lose out on moderates who will most likely run to the polls, as
Gillespie meets students in the hype squad at the Homecoming football game on Oct. 6, 2017. Photo by Maggie Markon