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The 2013 Virginia elections, held just after the infamous 2013 Government Shutdown—the political backlash to it resulted in a disappointing night for the GOP, allowing Terry McAulife, Ralph Northam, and Mark Herring to win the governor’s Lieutenant Governor’s and Attorney’s General Races.
In the gubernatorial election, McAuliffe—A longtime democratic bundler, National party apparachick, and Clinton ally—became the instant frontrunner despite losing the 2009 Gubernatorial Primary as State Senator Craig Deeds in 2009 suffered his second statewide loss.
This, plus some intrigue and division on the republican side, led to him facing off against Hard Right Tea Party adjacent Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
However, McAuliffe had his own problems, specifically his business dealings. Here, they always increased his wealth even when the ventures collapsed—leading Republicans to criticize him for not creating jobs.
Moreover, McAuliffe had a scandal with the company Greentech as that company was planning on building a facility in Mississippi and not VA, and the company was under investigation for iregularities in the special Visas they had issued for workers.
However, the VA GOP had their own issues this election. In addition to Cuccinelli's perceived extremism the increasing scandal sorrounding Governor Bob McDonnell was becoming imposible for the GOP to ignore;
with the resulting investigation not implicating Cuccinelli, but bringing an air of wrongdoing through the campaign as he had accepted $18K in gifts from the same man who had bribed McDonnell
However, the government shutdown provided the final nail in the Coffin for Cuccinelli's campaign, which combined with being outspent $34.4 million to $19.7 Million, and his perceived extremism cost him the race and gave McAuliffe his only term in the governor's mansion.
Like McAuliffe, Ralph Northom likewise won, but this time in a blowout. Thanks to his opponent’s perceived extreme views—moreso than Cuccinelli— Northam attacked E.W. Jackson for opposing Medicaid expansion, same sex marriage and his extreme pro Life views.
The Attorney’s General election was the closest of the three, most competitive, and garnered the least attention. And with this resulted in a recount that confirmed Herring’s victory and Gave Democrats all of Virginia’s statewide seats for the first time since 1970.
Comparing the Gubernatorial election to the Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, we find that Northam outperformed McAuliffe throughout Most of Virginia, usually by 10% or Greater,
but especially in his Senate district on the Easterm Peninsula, and the least in the northern Shenandoah as well as Coal Country in SWVA.
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