The Trumpists are already trying to claim the Virginia election as something they can take credit for

 Per the last post, McAuliffe ran a campaign that went heavy on associating Youngkin and Virginia Republicans generally with the Trump phenomenon.

And as I said then, if Youngkin really intends his victory to symbolize an actually conservative, rather than Trumpist, way forward for the GOP, he'd best vet everybody who will be working for him:

He'd have to scrupulously staff his entire administration with folks from the Kinzinger-Cheney-Meijer-Herrera-Beutler-Hogan-Sasse axis in order to keep it free from contamination. A tall order in these cacophonous times. 

The head of the Republican Governors Association appears to get it, based on the way he framed the outcome:

“Glenn ran an excellent and inspiring campaign that raises the bar for candidates across the country,” said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, chair of the Republican Governors Association (RGA). “Unlike his opponent, Glenn didn’t need a cast of national surrogates to do his work for him; he connected directly with voters on issues that matter to Virginians.”

This is interesting, given that you will not find a more ate-up Trumpist than the chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party.  

But before sunrise today, the Very Stable Genius and his sycophant were looking to get in on the action:

“​​I would like to thank my BASE for coming out in force and voting for Glenn Youngkin,” Trump said in a statement last night. “Without you, he would not have been close to winning. The MAGA movement is bigger and stronger than ever before.”

Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican Party, drew a similar, if misguided, conclusion. “Terry McAuliffe and Democrats tried to run against Trump in Virginia but their strategy backfired,” she wrote. “President Trump continues to be a huge boost for Republicans across the country.”

So, because Trump is a seven-year-old in a geriatric body who can't stand any Republican glory going to anyone else but himself, he's not going to stand for any future that doesn't keep him front and center.

Last night was a fine turn of events, but challenges lie ahead. 

UPDATE: Virginia's lieutenant-governor-elect brings a very interesting resume to her position:

Sears made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to the House in 2002 after she ousted the 20-year Democratic incumbent of Virginia's 90th District, William Robinson. A Jamaican immigrant, she also became the first naturalized US citizen to serve in the House. She is also the first woman of color to be elected to statewide office in Virginia, where politics have historically been dominated by white men.

In 2004, Sears unsuccessfully challenged longtime Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia's 3rd Congressional District. She took another run at federal office in 2018 as a write-in alternative to Republican senatorial candidate Corey Stewart, but lost that race.

Sears is a former US Marine, former vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education, and a former director of a women's homeless shelter. Her campaign sought to create more jobs, lower taxes, and also strengthen the state's schools.

Pubs would be wise to give her some room to shine, but wisdom is not the first trait that comes to mind when thinking about modern-day Pubs.