Trump takes lumps
Dems win Ky. gov, flip Va. statehouse
Democrats were victorious in several key national races on Tuesday — results seen as a blow to President Trump, who had campaigned on behalf of the Republican losers.
The biggest win was in the Kentucky governor’s race, where Democrat Andy Beshear declared victory over Republican incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin.
Beshear (pictured), the state’s attorney general, lead Bevin by just over 5,000 votes with all of the state’s precincts reporting.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to speak to Governor Bevin yet,” Beshear told supporters at his victory party. “But my expectation is he will honor the election that was held tonight.”
But despite the numbers, Bevin said he’s not conceding.
“This is a close, close race,” he said at his own Election Night event. “We are not conceding this race by any stretch.”
Trump, who cruised to victory in the Bluegrass State in 2016 by 30 points, stumped for Bevin at a Monday-night rally in Lexington, urging his supporters to vote for the GOP governor.
Earlier Tuesday, the president continued his push, tweeting “Vote for Matt Bevin NOW!”
Beshear got a big boost from voters in and around the state’s biggest cities.
In the county where Louisville sits, Beshear beat Bevin by nearly 100,000 votes.
He ran on returning “Kentucky values” to the state.
His father, Steve Beshear, was a popular two-term governor who preceded Bevin.
Bevin had been projected to face a tight race, as his approval ratings took a hit amid feuds with public- school teachers, state lawmakers and others.
He tried his best to nationalize the race taking hard antiabortion and anti-illegal immigration stances.
The Republican also aligned himself closely with Trump and fiercely opposed the impeachment proceedings against him.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Democrats flipped the state Senate and took control of the House of Delegates — giving them a majority in the entire statehouse.
Since Gov. Ralph Northam is also a Democrat, it’s the f irst time since 1994 that the party will be full control of the state government.
Among the Democratic winners was Danica Roem, the first openly transgender person to be elected and serve in the state legislature.
Roem overwhelmed her Republican opponent, Kelly McGinn, by 57 percent to 43.
As in Kentucky, Trump had thrown his weight behind the Republican candidates in Virginia.
“I hope everyone in the Great State of Virginia will get out and VOTE on Tuesday in all of the local and state elections to send a signal to D.C. that you want lower taxes, a strong Military, Border & 2nd Amendment, great healthcare, and must take care of our Vets. VOTE REPUBLICAN,” Trump tweeted earlier in the day.
Virginia Democrats have, in fact, vowed to push for gun reforms.