On Election Night, Democrats celebrated several victories in competitive contests. Notably, in the traditionally Republican stronghold of Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear secured his reelection, while in Virginia, Democrats successfully flipped the House of Delegates and retained control of the state Senate.
According to The Hill, abortion rights advocates also achieved significant wins, particularly in Ohio, where voters chose to codify abortion protections into state law.
Key takeaways from the 2023 election results include the prominence of abortion as a central issue for voters, particularly following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Ohio saw a major victory for abortion access advocates with the passage of Issue 1, which enshrined abortion rights in the state’s constitution. Ohio had previously curtailed abortion access following the Roe v. Wade decision, with one notable incident involving a 10-year-old girl who had to travel out of state for an abortion.
In Kentucky, Governor Beshear’s reelection victory was associated with his campaign promise to expand abortion access. His opponent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, initially expressed support for exceptions to the abortion ban but later shifted his stance.
In Virginia, Democrats maintained their majority in the state Senate and won the House of Delegates by highlighting the threat of an abortion ban in competitive districts.
These victories for abortion rights advocates, particularly in traditionally conservative Ohio and Kentucky, bode well for Democrats in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Several Democratic incumbents and candidates, including Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, have signaled their intention to make abortion rights a central campaign issue.
On the Republican side, the results indicated a lack of a successful message on abortion in a post-Roe world. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and other down-ballot Republicans who advocated for a 15-week abortion ban with exceptions did not see their strategy pay off.
In a notable upset, incumbent Senator Siobhan Dunnavant (R) in Virginia’s 16th state Senate District lost to Democrat Schuyler VanValkenburg, who portrayed Dunnavant as extreme on abortion, while Dunnavant endorsed Youngkin’s proposed ban.
High voter turnout in Tuesday’s off-year elections, even in traditionally Republican states like Ohio and Kentucky, favored the Democrats. In Ohio, the Issue 1 ballot measure generated early voting enthusiasm that benefited the party. Kentucky also witnessed strong Democratic turnout, while Republicans struggled to mobilize their base in the typically conservative state.
Strong Democratic turnout was evident in Virginia as well, with high participation reported in key precincts. Democrats successfully capitalized on the threat of Republican-led abortion bans to energize their base and appeal to independent voters.
Governor Beshear emerged as the standout figure of the night, showcasing that Democrats can win in traditionally red states by running localized campaigns focusing on everyday issues. At 45 years old, Beshear is a rising star within the Democratic Party and may be considered for future political positions.
Beshear’s victory offered a potential strategy for Democrats in 2024 when campaigning alongside an incumbent Democratic president with low approval ratings.
Governor Youngkin invested considerable effort in supporting Republican candidates in Virginia, but Democrats managed to flip the House of Delegates and maintain control of the state Senate. Youngkin played a role in Republican legislative primaries and fundraising through his Spirit of Virginia PAC. However, his efforts were not sufficient to replicate his 2021 success, when Republicans also secured control of the House of Delegates, elevating Youngkin’s national profile.
While Youngkin maintains high approval ratings in Virginia, the recent election results suggest that the political landscape can be unpredictable, and his influence may not guarantee victory in every contest.