Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
With Democratic sweep in Virginia, progressives hopeful
Virginia Politics
With Democratic sweep in Virginia, progressives hopeful
By Fenit Nirappil November 23 at 4:46 PM
Liberal dream bills, once considered dead-on-arrival in Virginia’s overwhelmingly Republican House of Delegates, face better odds in a reshaped Richmond after Democrats swept state elections earlier this month.
Democrat Ralph Northam will be sworn in as the 73rd governor after running on one of the most progressive platforms in recent Virginia history — including a $15 minimum wage, expanding Medicaid to nearly 400,000 low-income people and imposing new gun-control measures.
{Read a list of Ralph Northam’s campaign promises}
Unlike outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), Northam will take office in January alongside a General Assembly where Republican clout has been significantly diminished. The GOP has lost its two-thirds majority in the House of Delegates and may lose control of the chamber entirely, depending on the outcome of three races that have yet to be settled. One thing is for certain — the election flipped 15 GOP seats, so that the current count is 49 Democrats to 51 Republicans.
The Senate remains 21 Republicans to 19 Democrats with Democrat Justin Fairfax breaking any ties in his capacity as the newly elected lieutenant governor. ... Progressive groups see the shifting balance of power as an opportunity to advance legislation that had floundered when Republicans had a stronger majority.
....
Fenit Nirappil covers politics and government in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. He previously covered the California statehouse and suburban government outside Portland, Ore. Follow @FenitN
With Democratic sweep in Virginia, progressives hopeful
By Fenit Nirappil November 23 at 4:46 PM
Liberal dream bills, once considered dead-on-arrival in Virginia’s overwhelmingly Republican House of Delegates, face better odds in a reshaped Richmond after Democrats swept state elections earlier this month.
Democrat Ralph Northam will be sworn in as the 73rd governor after running on one of the most progressive platforms in recent Virginia history — including a $15 minimum wage, expanding Medicaid to nearly 400,000 low-income people and imposing new gun-control measures.
{Read a list of Ralph Northam’s campaign promises}
Unlike outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), Northam will take office in January alongside a General Assembly where Republican clout has been significantly diminished. The GOP has lost its two-thirds majority in the House of Delegates and may lose control of the chamber entirely, depending on the outcome of three races that have yet to be settled. One thing is for certain — the election flipped 15 GOP seats, so that the current count is 49 Democrats to 51 Republicans.
The Senate remains 21 Republicans to 19 Democrats with Democrat Justin Fairfax breaking any ties in his capacity as the newly elected lieutenant governor. ... Progressive groups see the shifting balance of power as an opportunity to advance legislation that had floundered when Republicans had a stronger majority.
....
Fenit Nirappil covers politics and government in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. He previously covered the California statehouse and suburban government outside Portland, Ore. Follow @FenitN
You mean "foundered," not "floundered," but never mind.
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
