The Voters Have Spoken: Election Day Results

BY, EMMA FRANKLIN

Voters flocked to their local voting locations on Tuesday to elect various candidates to office. Three of the most heavily watched races were for governor of N.J., governor of Va., and mayor of New York City.

The candidates for N.J. governor included Republican incumbent Chris Christie and Democrat Barbara Buono. Christie won the election by a landslide with 60.4% of votes to Buono’s 38.1%. Although N.J. has been a historically Democratic state, Governor Christie won the support of voters through his moderate policies and quick response to last year’s Hurricane Sandy disaster. Governor Christie’s mounting bipartisan support would potentially strengthen his potential bid for the 2016 presidential election, if he chooses to run.

GW College Republicans Chairman Alexander Miller said he was, “Very proud of Chris Christie in his incredible victory in New Jersey. He received a record number of votes from women and minority groups and seems well positioned for 2016.”

The race for Va. governor included the state Attorney General, Republican Kenneth Cuccinelli, and former Democratic National Committee chairman, Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Although the race was very tight, McAuliffe came out on top with 48.0% of the vote compared to Cuccinelli’s 45.5%.

“I kept a watchful eye on Virginia. Cuccinelli was predicted to lose by 7-12 points. However, the closeness of the elections proves that Americans are upset with the failed Obamacare and refutes claims that the government shutdown was the fault of, and ultimately hurt the GOP,” said Miller.

Cuccinelli, a Tea Party supporter, was not predicted to receive as much of the vote as he did. However, due to negative public opinion surrounding the Republican Party following the government shut down, McAuliffe’s campaign received a bit of an energy boost and increased voter turnout. These results have prompted the Republican Party to reevaluate how it chooses nominees in an effort to lessen the number of extremely radical candidates.

The GW College Democrats were active in the campaign. “Mr. McAuliffe's victory is particularly heartening because we invested so much effort in helping him win. These results mean real, material improvement in people's lives because now Medicaid expansion appears more likely in Virginia,” said GW College Democrats president Omeed Firouzi.

The race for mayor of New York City, widely considered the second most powerful political position within the United States, included Democrat Bill de Blasio and Republican Joseph J. Lhota. De Blasio was the overwhelming winner with 73.3% of the vote compared to Lhota’s 24.3%. 

“I’m thrilled at the results in New York City,” said Firouzi. “Stop and frisk may come to a close now, so obviously that is a good thing because it means progressive policy outcomes.”

New York City consistently votes liberally and considering the not-so-popular term of current moderately conservative mayor Michael Bloomberg, de Blasio’s win was no big surprise.