What Went Down During The 2021 Elections

The preliminary exit polls suggest almost three in four voters where white, while a little over one in four were members of racial and ethnic minority groups, which points to a Virginia electorate that is somewhat whiter than the 2020 electorate (although note that exit polls have tended to overstate how diverse the electorate is). We know white voters are more Republican-leaning, so this is good news for Youngkin, and it suggests that one of the worries Democrats had coming into this election — lower turnout among Black voters — may have come to pass.

It’s really fascinating how critical race theory and education issues writ large have become huge issues in the Virginia governor’s race. I thought it was interesting enough that Youngkin pledged to ban CRT in schools on his first day in office, if elected, but recent reporting suggests that Republicans elsewhere are playing off of conservative parent’s fears, too. According to the Associated Press, which cited data from Ballotpedia, there are 76 school districts in 22 states where candidates took a stance on either race in education or critical race theory. I wonder some of these races — Virginia especially — will test the extent to which these fights really animate voters? I could see Republicans during the midterms really doubling-down on this strategy of attacking CRT if Youngkin is successful tonight.

Great point, Leah. A lot of the current issues with the economy, of course, are because of the pandemic. And where does something like “mask mandates in schools” fall — education or the pandemic?