Democrats’ big problem: How to win without Trump to run against

In the Virginia elections, as well as nationally, we look at the role of negative partisanship. It’s when voters are more motivated by what they dislike in an opponent, than by what they like in their own candidate.

Democrats had some blockbuster years in Virginia during Donald Trump’s presidency. 

In 2017, Ralph Northam won the governorship by almost 9 points, more than tripling former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s margin from four years earlier. Democrats flipped three of the state’s 11 congressional seats in 2018, and in 2019 took control of the...