Editorial: A win for centrists and the suburbs
If you pay attention to the news, you understand that Tuesday's elections in Virginia and New Jersey sent shock waves through the political system and messages to both parties.
We agree that there are lessons to be drawn. But first, let's be clear about what the lessons were not.
The results were not the result of failures by Democrats in Congress to pass some version of an infrastructure bill.
Really? Voters in Virginia ousted Gov. Terry McAuliffe out of frustration with congressional inaction?
Neither were the results a product of Democrats failing "to stand for something," as many progressives argue. It's not that voters failed to hear the message; quite the contrary, it's because they didn't like the message they heard.
Some progressives don't seem to understand this, but most of the country does not want to get rid of police departments. Most of the country would rather get rid of violent crime.
Finally, the results were not a redemption of Donald Trump. Yes, Democrats erred in spending so much time focusing on Trump, but the reason that didn't work is not that the voters were endorsing him. It's that they aren't focusing on him.
Republicans, meanwhile, did not have a big night because of Trump. They had a big night because they ran away from Trump. They mentioned his name as little as possible.
What did those two elections show? Well, for one thing, that the suburbs are the Joe Manchin of elections. Urban areas vote blue, rural areas vote red and the suburbs determine the winners.
We in the suburbs may not be as blue as everyone has assumed. Bluer than we used to be, but not blue enough to be taken for granted.
What Virginia and New Jersey suggest is that the suburbs still are willing to vote Republican. Just not Trump Republican.
The country, it turns out, likes centrists. Or at least the suburbs do. In fact, the country always has.
Think of this generation's presidencies dating back to FDR: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Biden. Are you sensing some kind of trend? All centrists.
The lone exceptions: Reagan, ushered in by a stumbling presidency and a disastrous economy; Obama, elected by a transformational moment and a disastrous war; and Trump, a product of marketing magic that capitalized on misogyny, the collapse of white privilege and an angry protest vote.
People want to be listened to and respected. That is human nature. Who doesn't? So those unwilling to, say, grant parents a voice at the local school boards better take heed.
The lessons of Nov. 2? Listen to the people. And be reasonable. That's not rocket science. We won't even charge for the advice.