That was a pleasant surprise in VA.

In my Northern VA precinct, in a non-Presidential election, the usual suspects (retirees ranging up to 90+, condo owners, upscale apartment renters) show up to vote (or get an absentee ballot), with limited input from the garden-apartment renters.

THIS time, the garden-apartment renters showed up in larger numbers at the polls. Even despite the pouring rain that started around 10 am. And a lot of people voted in the early morning, maybe to avoid the rain.

The result: a normal 12/6 D/R vote ratio at the polls turned into a 15/6 D/R one. That translates into possibly a 25% increase in D voters (supported by past non-presidential turnout at the polls). The precinct almost ran out of non-emergency ballots.

I’ve no idea about the absentee vote ratio, but this IS Northern Virginia.

IMO, the turnout and result may have been influenced by “fears of Trumpism” as well as other issues such as abortion, health care, etc.

Overall, the latest results were 1.41 million Northam to 1.17 million Gillespie. Prior Virginia non-presidential results:

2013: 1.07 million McAuliffe, 1.01 million Cuchinelli (governor)
2014: 1.07 million Warner, 1.05 million Gillespie (Senate)

If the usual Democratic turnout of sub- 1.1 million had happened this time, Gillespie would have won the election.

Of course, in 2016 it was 1.98 million Clinton, 1.77 million Trump.