Virginia, New Jersey governor races could shift government shutdown calculus
Next week’s governor races may tell us more about where the shutdown fight is headed than the shutdown itself will show about those elections.While the gubernatorial races in New Jersey...
By Fox News · Fox News
Next week’s governor races may tell us more about where the shutdown fight is headed than the shutdown itself will show about those elections. While the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia will look largely untouched by the lapse in government funding, their results could serve as a barometer for public perception over who’s at fault for the standoff dragging out in Washington, D.C. But only if the results stand out. Bill Wichterman, former special assistant to President George W. Bush, said the two parties seem entrenched in their positions with no signs of blinking anytime soon. Having seen past shutdown conflicts up close as a policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and a chief of staff for other offices, he believes the election results would have to look dramatic to change the resolve of lawmakers. "Let’s say it’s normally a 5-point win, and it turns out to be a 15-point win," Wichterman said, speaking to the possibility of a Democrat winning in both races. "Yeah, that will get people’s attention. But if it’s like a normal 5-point win, whatever the norm is, I don’t think Republicans will look at that as alarming." Both Democratic candidates, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, lead their Republican challengers with just a week to go until Election Day. Republicans Winsome Earle-Sears, the Virginia candidate, and Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey both trail by under 10 points. CIATTARELLI HITS SHERRILL FOR VOTING TO AVERT SHUTDOWNS UNDER BIDEN BUT NOT TRUMP In the aftermath of a presidential election, Wichterman said a good performance by the minority party isn't particularly surprising; that would fit the historical trend for how the public reacts to a new president of either party. "A Democratic win in those two states? Does that freak out Republicans? No, they’re both blue states," Wichterman said. But if Republican gubernatorial candidates can pull upsets, Wichterman believes that changes things. "I…