The 2021 Elections ended and the off-year polls can offer clues and outcomes for the 2022 midterm races. Here are major takeaways from the polls.
2021 elections: Historic for people of color
One of the most important alerts from the results will be how people of color fared in the gubernatorial race. Republican Winsome Sears bested Democrat Hala Ayala to become the fourth Black female lieutenant governor in the US. Additionally, Sears will be the first woman to color winning the statewide office in Virginia.
Similarly, Republican Jason Miyares is leading Democrat Mark Herring. A win here will not only make him Old Dominion’s next attorney general but also the first Cuban American to take the chair. Other people of color expected to make history with a win are Democrats Eric Adams, Alvin Bragg, and Aftab Pureval.
Virginia voters mobilized with critical race theory
Voters from Virginia cite education and concerns over the critical race theory as the main reason to cast a vote in the elections. The theory is a legal framework that examines the systemic racism continuing in the US. Republican Glenn Youngkin inclined to the parents’ anger on the classroom curriculum.
On the other hand, people were angry upon hearing Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s comments “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” said Democrat Terry McAuliffe. “I taught in the public schools for 39 years, and education is extremely important to me. If anybody is a good governor for this state for education, it would be Terry McAuliffe,” said Mary Wagner, a retired public school teacher.
Minneapolis police fail
However, if the Democrats were tacking calls to abolish law enforcement for left-leaning activists last year ad this year, expect them to soon run away from them. Minneapolis voters said no to a referendum that is set on replacing the police department. The new proposed ‘public safety agency’ is to focus on civilian well-being, social services, and mental health.
The proposal was raised after the killings of black men by the police including that of George Floyd. The new proposal is aimed at fiercely diving the power in the police department, splitting it between the mayor and city council. Additionally, it includes removing the minimum funding requirement for staffing this force.
Virginia sees record turnout
Virginia’s election for the governor went beyond expectations. The voter turnout was higher than usual, especially among the Republicans. According to ABC News estimations, a record total of 3.3 million people voted this year. Hence, the numbers exceed the 2.6 million votes in 2017 and 2.2 million in 2013. “The folks who care about the issues, they always come out to vote. Where the influx comes is folks who have a real interest in some of the key issues of the governor’s race – the economy and our schools and the children,” said Kenneth Gantt. Gantt has been volunteering to the polls in Fredericksburg for the last three cycles.
