Gop race who is winning

McAuliffe was looking to buck history, since his state almost always elects a governor of the opposite party as the sitting president, but history won. Democrats, too, will be looking to buck history next year, since the opposition party almost always comes roaring back in a new president's first midterms, but they'll need to look elsewhere for hope to overcome that headwind now.

The state was Democrats' to lose. No Republican had won statewide since Biden won by 10 percentage points last November. And outgoing Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who is prohibited by the state Constitution from running for a second term, won by 9 percentage points in Democrats won control of the state Legislature for the first time in decades two years ago and pushed through an expansion of early voting rules that some analysts predicted would help the party turn out its base.

Two special congressional elections in Ohio resulted in keeping the seats under the same party control. NBC News exit polls found the economy was the top issue for Virginia voters — they split roughly evenly on which candidate they trusted more to handle the issue — followed by education, taxes, Covid and abortion, in that order.

The race was stoked by conservative alarmism about critical race theory, an until-recently obscure academic discipline mostly taught in universities. Republicans say the issue could be central in future campaigns across the country.

Trump has loomed large over the Virginia race, with McAuliffe looking to tie his opponent to the divisive former president, who lost the state by 10 percentage points in Republican state senator's win shocks political world -- and himself. Extreme rhetoric by top GOP members points to 'sickness' in politics. GOP strategist on what Biden's approval rating could mean for Top Trump campaign associates subpoenaed by January 6 committee. CNN poll reveals Biden's approval at new low.

Analysis: Biden's 'roller coaster' 10 days. McAuliffe's loss in a state that President Joe Biden won by double digits last year showed the enormous challenges that Democrats are facing next year as they attempt to maintain control of the US House and Senate. McAuliffe, who served as governor from to in a state that does not allow successive terms, had struggled to find a message that would galvanize Democrats at a time when Biden's approval ratings have sagged and the party has been unable to deliver a clear message amid bickering over the President's agenda in Congress.

McAuliffe conceded Wednesday morning, congratulating Youngkin and "wishing the best to him and his family. Economy tops education and Covid as most important issue for Virginia voters, exit poll shows. Virginia and New Jersey each have a historical pattern of electing governors in off-year elections who are from the opposite party of the occupant of the White House.

McAuliffe defied that pattern when he won his first term in , the year after then-President Barack Obama won reelection. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy had hoped voters would reward him for his handling of the Covid pandemic and make him the first Democratic governor to win reelection in the state in more than 40 years.

But as the ballots were counted Tuesday night, Republican Jack Ciattarelli was performing much better than expected, another warning sign for Democrats in a state Biden won by nearly 16 points. The race remains too close to call. McAuliffe had hoped to win a second nonconsecutive term by trying to tie Youngkin to former President Donald Trump. But that strategy fell flat -- failing to turn out the Democrats that McAuliffe needed to staunch Youngkin's momentum and his gains among independent voters.

The dynamic provided a cautionary tale for some Democrats who had hoped to use that strategy to defeat their Republican opponents next year in the midterm races. The sour mood of voters also appeared to be a factor in the much closer than expected New Jersey governor's race. Read More. Virginia Democrats clearly underestimated Youngkin, an agile candidate who burrowed into local issues like education and fashioned himself as a champion for parental rights.

He also seized on a late-stage stumble by McAuliffe, who during a debate suggested parents should have a minimal role in shaping school curriculums. That approach could provide a model for Republicans competing in future races that feature significant numbers of Democratic or independent voters.

Cincinnati is getting its first Asian American mayor, Aftab Pureval. Minneapolis voters rejected a ballot initiative that sought to overhaul policing in their city, where George Floyd was killed by a white police officer on Memorial Day , sparking the largest wave of protests against racial injustice in generations.

Favoring fleece vests, Youngkin sought to cut the image of a genial suburban dad. Youngkin ran confidently on a conservative platform. He opposed a major clean energy mandate the state passed two years ago and objected to abortion in most circumstances. In recent months, it has become a catch-all political buzzword for any teaching in schools about race and American history. McAuliffe tried to energize the Democratic base by highlighting abortion, denouncing a new Texas law that largely banned the procedure and warning that Youngkin would seek to implement similar restrictions.

While McAuliffe pulled on the star power of a host of national Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and ex-Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams, Youngkin largely campaigned on his own, focusing on issues he said were important to Virginians.