In Kentucky And Virginia, A Strong Night For Democrats In Off-Year Elections

Democrats had a strong election night on Tuesday, leading the race for governor in Kentucky and taking back full control of the Virginia legislature for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

With all precincts reporting in Kentucky, Democrat Andy Beshear bested Republican Gov. Matt Bevin by 5,198 votes, or 0.36% of all votes cast. While The Associated Press says the race is too close to call, Beshear declared victory. Bevin refused to concede.

If Beshear's margin holds, it's a blow to President Trump, who rallied in the state for Bevin on the eve of the election.

Beshear, the Kentucky attorney general, was able to drive up turnout in the commonwealth's urban and suburban centers and received stronger-than-expected numbers in some rural areas. His lead suggested voters are still willing to make a distinction between state and federal races, even in a hyper-partisan political environment.

"Our elections don't have to be about right versus left. They can still be about right versus wrong," Beshear said as he claimed victory.

Bevin's second-place position also suggests there may be limits to Trump's typically uncanny ability to turn out his base for a candidate.

Kentucky is a GOP stronghold at the federal level, having gone for Trump by 30 points in 2016, but has a long history of electing Democrats at the state level. When he won in 2015, Bevin became just the third Republican Kentucky governor since World War II.