New York skyline. Photograph by asterix611
Democrats won elections in New York and Virginia, and moderate Republican Chris Christie was re-elected in New Jersey as the American public blamed the recent government shutdown on the no-compromise far-right Republicans in the polls.
Bill de Blasio is to become New York’s first democrat mayor since 1993, succeeding Republican-turned-independent Michael Bloomberg.
Another Democrat, Terry McAuliffe beat Republican Ken Cuccinelli in a very close contest for the Virginia governorship.
Moderate Republican Chris Christie won re-election as New Jersey’s governor by a big margin, possibly making the first few steps along a path for a presidential run in 2016.
The races are an early test of the support for both Republicans and Democrats and the parties’ performance since the 2012 re-election of Barack Obama and the results are not positive for the Republicans. Virginia is an important swing state, and the belief that it was hard-line Republican stubbornness that resulted in the recent government shutdown has caused a backlash from the general public.
