I’ll explain why Tuesday’s losses in Virginia hurt, how the state still leans winnable for Republicans, what mistakes to avoid, where the right candidates and message matter most, and why a steady ground game will swing the pendulum back.
I was in New York City on 9/11, and a few days later my friend and I drove home through the Shenandoah Valley to get away from Washington. That stretch of Virginia felt familiar and comforting, the kind of place that reminds you of family roots and why regional identity matters politically. It still matters today as we wrestle with what just happened at the ballot box.
Tuesday felt like a gut punch for conservatives in Virginia, and I’ll admit it stung. Local losses are personal when you’ve lived in or around a state and invested time and energy into building a movement there. But emotion doesn’t replace strategy, and a bruising result should sharpen a campaign’s focus rather than cause surrender.
One of the most alarming elements was that a majority backed a candidate who, according to reporting, fantasized about killing a former GOP colleague and their children. That reality underlines a basic political truth: message matters, character matters, and voters notice extremes even when turnout patterns favor the other side. We must call out behavior that violates common decency while staying clear-eyed about the electoral math that put certain officials in office.
Virginia has trended purple and sometimes blue in recent cycles, especially when Northern Virginia turns out in force and decides to dictate the state’s direction. That geographic reality doesn’t make the state lost; it makes it a battleground that reacts to organizing, candidates, and consistent messaging. The right candidate in the right place with a disciplined ground game can move a map that otherwise looks hostile on paper.
Republicans can’t rely on nostalgia or national outrage alone. We need a steady plan to contest suburban voters, rural turnout, and the messaging battlefield where cultural issues and public safety resonate. When the right candidate shows up and sticks to commonsense priorities—schools, crime, taxes, and protecting liberty—Virginia voters often respond. They did in 2021, and similar dynamics can flip back if we keep at it.
Republican Delegate Jen Kiggans, whose district faces aggressive redistricting, posted a reminder that applies well beyond her seat. She shared a message about the pendulum of politics swinging and how today’s losses can set the stage for tomorrow’s gains. That kind of perspective—focused on persistence and readiness for the next contest—is exactly what the GOP needs to embrace across the commonwealth.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about politics since I won my first election in 2019, the pendulum swings…sometimes too much, especially here in Virginia. Look at what happened just one year ago- Republicans swept the country and now have a [trifecta] in federal government. This year Democrats swept key races and have a super-majority in Richmond. The pendulum will swing again which sets Republicans up for success next year, when I am back on the ballot. Keep watch Virginia…. Elections have consequences. And don’t forget that commonsense will prevail and we are not California or NYC! Stay tuned…
Don’t gloss over the structural work: voter contact, local messaging, and sustained candidate recruitment are what swing close districts back. Virginia isn’t California or New York, and reminding voters of that contrast in practical terms—schools, crime policy, and local control—often cuts through hyperpartisan noise. The goal is to make the case for practical governance over theatrical outrage.
There are real opportunities to reclaim ground by focusing resources where they’re most effective, not by chasing every shiny national narrative. That means investing in precinct-level organizing, defending vulnerable incumbents, and offering credible alternatives on day-to-day issues that affect voters’ lives. Consistency beats flash every time when it comes to governing credibility.
We should also be prepared to highlight the contrast with the left on issues where their policies have failed or produced predictable harm. Calling out bad governance and offering a clear, conservative alternative is not mean-spirited; it’s responsible leadership. Virginia voters reward officials who speak plainly and deliver on basic promises.
Finally, the fight for Virginia is a long game, and losing a cycle does not equal permanent defeat. The pendulum moves, and so should our plans. Stay disciplined on message, invest in local teams, and keep nominating candidates who reflect mainstream Virginia values. That approach will give conservatives the best shot at reversing these setbacks and protecting the state from coastal extremes.
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