2009.11.03
Analysis: Is winning re-election a bad career move?
Republican Bill Bolling tonight won re-election as lieutenant governor. Because Virginia has a one-term-and-you’re-out limit on the governor, we don’t have much experience with our top state officials running for re-election. Governor’s can’t, and usually lieutenant governors and attorney general run for, well, governor.
So what’s the history here?
In what I’m considering the “modern” era of Virginia politics, here are the examples before us:
* Andrew Miller: Elected attorney general in 1969, re-elected in 1973, ran for the Democratic nomination for governor and lost in 1977.
* Mary Sue Terry. Elected attorney general in 1985, re-elected in 1989, ran for governor in 1993 and lost.
* Don Beyer. Elected lieutenant governor in 1989, re-elected in 1993, ran for governor in 1997 and lost.
So, three examples, three losers. (All Democrats, by the way.)
Coincidence or trend?
One argument would say each candidate was smart to run for re-election -- avoiding difficult circumstances each time -- and just had bad luck when they finally went for the top job.
Is there another argument to be made that running for re-election is a bad idea?
-- Dwayne Yancey, senior editor
OTHER ELECTION ANALYSIS:
* Analysis: The most expensive governor's race ever
* Analysis: Where we'll be looking tonight
* Analysis: How many House seats will change hands tonight?
* Analysis: The biggest winning margin since . . .
* Analysis: The polls close; here's what's coming . . .
* Analysis: The saddest sight I've seen in politics
* Analysis: The first precinct reports in
* Analysis: An early return from Henrico County
* Analysis: A closer look at McDonnell's lead
* Analysis: McDonnell winning places that Democrats did four years ago
* Analysis: Henry County flips to McDonnell
* Analysis: Deeds running weaker in Northern Virginia
* Analysis: How Deeds did it -- a counter-factual look at McDonnell's victory
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama hurt Deeds
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama didn't matter
* Analysis: Are sweeps common or rare in Virginia?
* Analysis: Republicans take back the suburbs
* Analysis: Are primary winners destined to be November losers?
* Analysis: McDonnell may win biggest Republican victory ever
* Analysis: Should the Democrats blame their defeat on . . . Terry McAuliffe?
* Analysis: Did the Republicans win this race four years ago?
* Analysis: Should the Democrats blame . . . Phil Puckett?
* Analysis: Why didn't the thesis sink McDonnell?
We have complete results here.
