[nostromo]

I agree that Seattle is a little bonkers, but I disagree that this isn’t a larger shift.

NJ and Virginia governorships were both supposed to be easy wins for incumbent Democrats. So far, one has lost and one is too close to call.

[bingohbangoh]

For those unaware, Murphy (D, incumbent) was ~20% up back in July.

It's shocking its even close.

[cafard]

No incumbent governor of Virginia can run for the office, for terms may not be consecutive. In fact, few who have been elected governor of Virginia have ever run again. There were questions raised about the legality of McAuliffe's running.

And I'm not sure that anyone has ever been terribly inspired by Terry McAuliffe.

[joecot]

Phil Murphy ran for governor of NJ essentially on the promise of legal recreational weed. He did so beating out the NJ Democratic Machine, lead by the Norcross family.

Knowing that weed was Murphy's #1 campaign promise, the NJ Democrat machine did everything they could to bring it to a halt. That was lead by Senate president Steve Sweeney. Eventually weed was legalized via referendum, but they're still slow walking dispensaries. And I'm guessing weed was not the only thing they slow walked him on.

As a result, Murphy's election was painfully close, and Sweeney lost to this guy who paid $153 for his campaign.