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Terry McAuliffe prepares to speak after winning the Democratic primary for governor on June 8, 2021, in McLean, Va. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

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Virginia heralded the anti-Trump electoral resistance in 2017 when it elected 15 Democrats to the House of Delegates, including 11 women, one of them transgender and four of color, plus a democratic socialist, along with a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Two years later, they took the General Assembly, giving the state that hosted the capital of the Confederacy complete Democratic control. Progressives hoped Virginia would become a bellwether for political change, and in some ways it was, as the state expanded Medicaid, repealed restrictive abortion laws, expanded voting access, and promoted antidiscrimination laws.

Tuesday nights election results set back the progressive dream, some. Former governor Terry McAuliffe swept aside his opponents, winning more than 60 percent of the vote; progressive favorite Jennifer Carroll Foy, endorsed by Emilys List, Higher Heights and more unions than any other candidate, eked out 20 percent. McAuliffe won every city and county in Virginia. In some ways, it felt like a rerun of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, where a historically diverse fieldincluding four female Democratic senators, two Black senators, a Latino former congressman, an Asian American, a gay mayor, and at least two solid progressivesmade it hard for voters to coalesce on the grounds of representation or ideology, and elder white statesman Joe Biden ultimately cruised to victory.Related Article

Similarly, in a race with three Black candidatesCarroll Foy, state Senator Jennifer McClellan, and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfaxand two progressives, Carroll Foy and democratic socialist Delegate Lee Carter, a single strong challenger to McAuliffe could never emerge. Like Biden, McAuliffe was able to count on the support of most Black establishment leadershe had roughly as many Black elected officials in his corner as the three Black candidates combined. He launched his campaign last year flanked by Black allies, including state Senator Louise Lucas and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. McAuliffe is credited with helping to inspire the Democratic resurgence in the state, and gets wide credit for restoring the voting rights of Virginia felons in 2017. Also: Black Virginians want a winner in November, and the well-funded former governor (and Democratic National Committee chair) may be the only one who can compete with self-funding businessman Glenn Youngkin in raising money.

Elsewhere around the state, there were other disappointments. Moderate Delegate Hala Ayala beat progressive Delegate Sam Rasoul for nomination as lieutenant governor. Ayala once seemed fairly progressive herself, but in this race she reversed course and took money fromVirginia energy monopoly Dominion. Another Muslim progressive, Delegate Ibrahim Samirah, lost his seat to well-funded moderate Irene Shin. Democratic socialist Lee Carter lost twice, in the governors race and in a primary for his delegate seat, losing to moderate Michelle Lopez-Maldonado. (Its worth noting that the two male progressives lost to women of color.) But with Carroll Foy replaced in the House of Delegates by Black moderate Candi King, its hard not to notice that the progressive wing of that body has been clipped some. MORE FROM Joan Walsh

For his part, Carter said he was relieved to lose, with an odd tweet saying, This job has made me miserable for the last 4 years and complaining of assassination threats and harassment. Some progressives on Twitter took it as a sign of the self-absorption that led him to run for governor, where he won only 3 percent of the vote.

The best news of the night for progressives? Twenty-six-year old Nadarius Clark, a Black community organizer endorsed by Democratic Socialists of America, Clean Virginia, and other progressive groups, beat a fairly conservative Democratic incumbent, Steve Heretick, known for his staunch defense of Dominion and his opposition to a law mandating the removal of Confederate monuments. Clark fought back tears at his victory party, telling reporters, Its just so remarkable we had the opportunity to show Virginia that a young 26-year-old can make a difference in their community. They can be the change they want to see. Daily Kos communications director Carolyn Fiddler says Hereticks loss is a boost for progressives: Democrats wont have to worry about Hereticks recurring contrariness if their House majority shrinks. Meanwhile, progressive Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who dropped a run for governor, beat back centrist challengers to hold her seat.

There was also some good news on the GOP side, where wing nut attorney Wren Williams, who counseled Donald Trump during the Wisconsin recount last year, crushed seven-term incumbent Charles Poindexter, partly on the grounds of Poindexters insufficient loyalty to the disgraced former president. Its just another sign that Trump has a tight grip on the state party. Former Carlyle Group CEO Glenn Youngkin might want to try to distance himself from the former president, to win back suburbanites whove strayed to Democrats in the Trump years, but Trump already endorsed him and is unlikely to loosen his hug any time soon.Current Issue

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In his victory speech, McAuliffe quickly turned to bashing his opponent. Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican, he told the crowd, warning the race could be close. There are 75 million reasons that Glenn Youngkin could win, he added, referring to the Republicans wealth, and urged his supporters to give money every single day.

For his part, Youngkin welcomed McAuliffe to the race with an ad starring Carroll Foy saying the former Democratic governor is not inspiring and doesnt represent change.

But Carroll Foy quickly endorsed McAuliffe. Lets do everything we have to do. Lets get in the trenches. Lets do the work because at the end of the day, we must win in November, she told a crowd as she conceded. Another new Youngkin ad features him in a sea of older white male politicians in suits, his red vest supposedly marking him as an outsider.

Its hard to imagine overwhelmingly white Virginia GOP voters will be fired up by a progressive Black Democrats complaints about McAuliffe, or by complaints that white men have run Virginia for too longespecially coming from a wealthy older white man. This race will get uglier.

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Progressive Dreams Are on Pause in Virginia - The Nation

Mayoral candidate Maya Wiley accepted endorsements from a slate of progressive leaders, some of whom previously backed her opponent Scott Stringer, last week in Bushwick bar Pine Box Rock Shop.

State Sen. Julia Salazar, State Assembly members Maritza Davila and Emily Gallagher and District Leader Samy Nemir-Olivares announced their support. Sen. Salazar and Assemblymember Maritza Davila were part of a group of left-of-center elected officials who withdrew their support for Stringer in April after an allegation that he sexually harassed a campaign worker 20 years ago.

Wiley, who served as counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio and chair of the NYPD Civilian Complaint Review Board, emphasized that the progressive movement was unified in support of her campaign during the announcement.

It is clear, and I say this with a humble honor, that I am the progressive thats gonna win this race, said Wiley.

Proving her point, the Working Families Party, which recently withdrew its support of Scott Stringer and mayoral candidate Diane Morales, also announced a full endorsement of Wiley on Friday afternoon. And on Saturday she received big endorsements from former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and progressive Congresswoman from the Bronx Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

Maya, to me, has been the most consistent candidate. She has been the candidate who has maintained integrity throughout her entire campaign, said Sen. Salazar, explaining why she had decided to back Wiley. That became evident and clearer to me the closer that we have gotten to election day.

Congresswoman Nydia Valesquez, a long-time supporter of Wiley, was given some of the credit for bringing together the Bushwick progressives. Rep. Velazquez was not in attendance, but a representative spoke in her place.

Early voting starts on June 12. Election day is June 22. Find your poll site here.

All photos courtesy of Erik Kantar.

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Sen. Salazar, Other Local Progressives Back Maya Wiley For Mayor - bushwickdaily.com

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

President Joe Bidens proposed tax increases are running into resistance from lawmakers in his own party, but in a number of blue states it is the reverse dynamic, with Democratic chief executives blocking tax hikes proposed by progressive legislators. At the same time the Biden White House is having trouble convincing congressional Democrats to pass 30 proposed tax hikes, Democratic governors in the northeast are thwarting efforts by legislative Democrats to enact income tax increases.

In Maine, where Democrats control both chambers of the state legislature, lawmakers are trying to pass LD 498, legislation to impose a progressive income tax hike. LD 498 would raise the states top income tax rate from 7.15% to 10.15%, a more than 41% rate increase that would apply to filers with annual income above $200,000. Marketed as a tax hike targeting wealthy people, this proposed income tax hike would hit thousands of small businesses across Maine, most of whom file under the individual income tax system.

Thats not the only tax hike pending right now in Maine, where lawmakers have also introduced a bill to raise the personal income tax rate from 7.15% to 8.93% and the corporate rate from 8.93% to 12.4%. As with LD 498, these tax hikes would reduce the job-creating capacity of Maines small businesses.

Maine taxpayers already contend with the nations 12th highest state and local tax burden and Governor Janet Mills (D) is trying to stop that burden from rising further, at least this session. As the Maine Wire recently reported, Millspledgednot to raise taxes during her gubernatorial campaign, and her opposition, particularly to LD 498, has put herat oddswith progressives in her own party.

As in Maine, Democrats in Connecticut control both chambers of the state legislature and the governors mansion. As in Maine, legislative Democrats in Connecticut are trying to impose a tax hike on upper income households, while a Democratic governor is standing in their way. As part of the new budget deal approved in early June, Connecticut lawmakers gave up on their months-long effort to pass a more than 25% capital gains tax increase along with an income tax hike aimed at upper income filers.

Why would you want to raise taxes when you don't have to? That rhetorical question was Governor Ned Lamonts (D) inititial response to legislative Democrats earlier this year. Indeed, Connecticut lawmakers do not need to raise taxes to balance the budget. The Hartford Courant recently reported on Connecticuts rosy budget projections, which show the states budget picture is far better than the recent past with a projected surplus of more than $500 million in the current fiscal year, a projected rainy day fund of $4.5 billion later this year, and better-than-expected tax collections due chiefly to a series of records on Wall Street over the past year.

Connecticut lawmakers also dropped a proposed tax hike on health insurers and a controversial digital tax as part of the new budget agreement. Its balanced with no new taxes, Governor Lamont said of the deal.

Yet, while Governor Lamont convinced Democratic legislators to drop the tax hikes they were seeking, legislators were able to talk Governor Lamont into backing off a regressive tax hike that he was championing in the form of a cap and trade program referred to as the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI is a regional cap and trade scheme led by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) and the Georgetown University Climate Center that, had it been implemented in Connecticut as Governor Lamont called for, wouldve translated into higher gas prices for Nutmeg State drivers, which would act as a regressive tax hike disproportionally harming low income households.

Aside from the regressive nature of TCI, many opponents of the program point out that it is a solution in search of a problem, as transportation emissions are projected to decline even without TCI.

Although both TCI and the Lamont administration tout a 26% reduction in emissions over ten years, TCI acknowledges that emissions are estimated to decline naturally by 24% due to increased vehicle fuel efficiency and electric vehicle usage, notes the Yankee Institutes Marc Fitch.

While Governor Lamont failed to enact TCI, he did approve a highway use tax commonly referred to as a truck tax. Connecticut Republicans applauded the avoidance of most tax hikes as part of the new state budget. GOP lawmakers also took credit for helping defeat the many tax hikes that were being considered this year.

The governor started out wanting new taxes on gas, food and health insurance,' Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly and Representative Vincent Candelora, the leading Republican in the Connecticut House, said in a joint statement. Democrats wanted over $3.2 billion in new taxes on income, mileage, houses, and jobs. Today, they tell us all those taxes are out of the budget. So what changed? Republicans rallied around our state saying no to any new taxes.

As recent developments in Connecticut, Maine, and other blue states demonstrate, just because Democrats have unified control of government, doesnt mean they need to raise taxes. That is a lesson that many taxpayers, particularly employers seeking to recover from the pandemic-driven downturn, hope a majority-blocking number of congressional Democrats soon learn and apply at the federal level.

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Democratic Governors Thwart Progressive Income Tax Hikes In Blue States - Forbes

ALBANY State lawmakers passed long called-for reforms by progressives on criminal justice and gun reform. They legalized marijuana. They agreed to protections for those afflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The laws passed in this years legislative session that came to a close late Thursday night came under unique circumstances: the power of a progressive caucus in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement; the response to the coronavirus pandemic; and scandalous allegations swirling around Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, limiting his political swagger and ability to force deals.

The solutions some advocates proposed to deal with issues they view as priorities in the criminal justice system at times fell short, despite overwhelming Democratic majorities in both chambers.

And while Democratic leadership checked just how progressive the policies they would pass would be, Republicans seized on the leftward shift and staked out their platform moving into next year's elections.

In the waning days of the session, with gun violence surging both in the state and nationwide, conservatives called for a tough-on-crime approach and attributed the increase in shootings, in part, to police forces that are being hobbled by progressive policies and calls to "defund" their agencies.

For Cuomo, a last-minute controversy erupted as he sought to push through a long list of appointees to key positions ranging from the Board of Elections to the Public Service Commission. With his stature arguably weakened by ongoing state and federal investigations, as well as an impeachment probe in the Assembly, some lawmakers pushed back and complained they should have more time to vet the appointees who often normally sail through that process.

The session was defined as much by its bills passed as the moment in time. The coronavirus pandemic restricted the access to lawmakers from the public, including lobbyists and the advocacy groups who normally flood the Capitol's hallways. Debates were conducted virtually for the most part and the usually pulsing Capitol was largely lifeless throughout the session.

It remains unclear whether there will be a special session this year, including to pursue any potential impeachment proceeding of Cuomo, who faced calls for his resignation, including from key Democratic leaders.

"As our scheduled session concludes tonight, we are proud of the historic progress we made this year," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement late Thursday. "If ongoing discussions on any outstanding issues require action, we stand ready to come back when and if necessary."

The state is continuing to operate under a state of emergency, although the Senate recently reined in some of the executive powers they approved for Cuomo as the pandemic began last year a setup that had particularly unsettledRepublicans.

In spite of what they will talk about after this session, thats the story, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said Thursday. A governor with multiple investigations, a governor who lied to the people of New York, a governor who's being investigated by the (state) attorney general, the U.S. attorney and the Assembly and yet he continues to retain all of his pandemic power and continues to horse trade to get things that he needs.

On Thursday, the Legislature also approved parole reforms, but not all of what criminal justice advocates called for had broad Democratic support.

The "Less is More" legislation would avoid sending someone back to jail for a non-criminal parole violation. It was part of a package of reforms that were partly taken up by the Legislature, but more far-reaching plans like an opportunity for mandatory parole eligibility for elderly people failed to get to the floor.

I want to thank my colleagues who, like me, came to Albany to resist the ongoing criminalization of our people, AssemblywomanJessica Gonzalez-Rojas said on the floor Thursday. It is time to punish less and heal more.

Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, was elected last year, a few months after Black Lives Matter protests and calls for criminal justice reform swept the country.

This eliminates all parole, Andy Goodell, R-Chautauqua, said. And for this reason Im opposed.

Throughout the session, Republicans pushed back on the way Democrats wanted to reform criminal justice systems that many progressives call broken. Instead, conservatives said the state needed to support its law enforcement and avoid tying their hands.

The partisan issue flared similarly during a debate on major gun reforms passed earlier this month.

Democrats, with a legislative supermajority, passed legislation that can allow the attorney general's office to sue gun manufacturers. There was also legislation passed to outlaw so-called ghost guns, that are largely untraceable and come disassembled. And a new center is to study that issues of gun violence in New Yorks communities.

Republicans called the legislation an affront on the Second Amendment and looking to the wrong people to solve the widely agreed upon problem of gun violence.

But one of the most notable measures approved this year was the legalization of recreational marijuana use for adults, something Cuomo pushed for while his public image plummeted. Lawmakers have projected the move will result in fewer incarcerations while eventually raising hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenues and creating up to 60,000 jobs.

I'm proud these comprehensive reforms address and balance the social equity, safety and economic impacts of legal adult-use cannabis, Cuomo said in a statement on March 31. I thank both the (Senate majority) leader and the (Assembly) speaker, and the tireless advocacy of so many for helping make today's historic day possible."

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How much progress? Session ends with progressive victories, Cuomo in scandal - Times Union

Rep. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalHouse Democrats push Garland for immigration court reforms Progressives rally behind Omar while accusing her critics of bias Bipartisan talks sow division among Democrats MORE (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, says bipartisan infrastructure talks are proving to be a waste of time and urged Democratic leaders to move forward with a reconciliation bill that doesnt need Republican votes to pass.

In case it wasnt clear already, it certainly is now: Republicans are not going to do what needs to be done for working families. It would be foolish to think that Republican senators will suddenly go against [Senate Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnells [R-Ky.] goal of dedicating 100 percent of his energy toward blocking President BidenJoe BidenJill Biden, Kate Middleton to meet this week Al Gore lobbied Biden to not scale back climate plans in infrastructure deal White House briefed on bipartisan infrastructure deal but says questions remain MOREs agenda, she said in a statement.

Jayapal urged the Senate and House to immediately begin working on budget resolutions to pass the American Jobs and Families Plan through reconciliation so we can deliver on our promises.

She issued her statement shortly after President Biden suspended his weeks-long negotiation with Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoAl Gore lobbied Biden to not scale back climate plans in infrastructure deal White House briefed on bipartisan infrastructure deal but says questions remain Bipartisan Senate group announces infrastructure deal MORE (R-W.Va.) on a bipartisan infrastructure package that would cost less than Bidens $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan.

Now a group of Democratic and Republican moderates in the Senate are trying to step in and craft their own bipartisan deal, which would be in the ballpark of $880 billion, significantly less than what Biden says he wants.

And on Tuesday the House Problem Solvers Caucus proposed a $762 billion infrastructure spending plan.

But Jayapal says Congress needs to pass a far larger package than what the moderates are discussing.

President Biden has laid out a big, bold vision, and it is urgent. The next step is clear: lets do what the people are demanding. Lets go big, bold and fast, she said.

In a red flag for progressives, Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyWhite House briefed on bipartisan infrastructure deal but says questions remain On The Money: Consumer prices jumped 5 percent annually in May | GOP senators say bipartisan group has infrastructure deal Bipartisan Senate group announces infrastructure deal MORE (R-Utah) has told reporters that any bipartisan deal would not raise taxes and instead rely on increasing user fees and other strategies to raise revenue.

Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterBipartisan Senate group announces infrastructure deal 'The era of bipartisanship is over': Senate hits rough patch On The Money: Bipartisan Senate group rules out tax hikes on infrastructure | New report reignites push for wealth tax MORE (Mont.), a moderate Democrat in the talks, confirmed that this is the position of Romney, but suggested a deal could be found.

I think theres ways to do that. Hopefully it wont be smoke and mirrors. Bottom line, this is probably the toughest part about this from my perspective, is how you get a pay-for, he said, referring to finding a way to offset the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars in new infrastructure spending without raising taxes.

Many Democrats, including Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenSenate panel advances nominations for key Treasury positions Overnight Health Care: US to donate 500 million Pfizer doses to other countries: reports | GOP's attacks on Fauci at center of pandemic message | Federal appeals court blocks Missouri abortion ban New report reignites push for wealth tax MORE (Ore.), however, say its imperative that corporations foot a big part of the cost of infrastructure investment by paying higher taxes.

Jayapal argues the more time spent on bipartisan negotiations means the longer Congress will go without passing a significant infrastructure investment bill.

Every day that is wasted trying to get Republicans on board is another day that people cant go back to work because they dont have child care; another day without investing in millions of good, union jobs, another day that we lose further ground on the climate crisis, she said. Further delays jeopardize momentum and allow Republicans to block progress for the American people with no end in sight.

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Key progressive calls for bipartisan infrastructure talks to end | TheHill - The Hill