Virginia’s special election between Whitson and Walkinshaw could provide insights into the upcoming governor’s race between Sears and Spanberger.
—
VotersinVirginia’sWashingtonsuburbsareheadingtothepollsTuesdayinaspecialelectionthatcouldofferanearlyglimpseofthestate’shigh-stakesgovernor’sracethisfall.
RepublicanStewartWhitson,anArmycombatveteranandformerFBIagent,ischallengingDemocratJamesWalkinshaw,aFairfaxCountysupervisorandlongtimechiefofstafftoRep.GerryConnolly,D-Va.TheNorthernVirginiadistricttypicallyvotesoverwhelminglyDemocratic,givingWalkinshawaclearedge.
Throughanalysisofrecentstatewideelections,someinsightintotheupcominggovernor’sracecanbegainedevenifWhitsondoesnotpulloffwhatwouldbeahistoricupsetforRepublicans.
Virginialimitsitsgovernorstooneconsecutiveterm,andoutgoingGov.GlennYoungkin’s2021victorywaspeggednotonlytohisfocusonpressingissuesliketheeconomyandparentalrights,butalsohislittle-reportedabilitytoproverbiallyrunupthescoreinareasalreadyfriendlytoRepublicans.
‘DO
