Focus groups gathered for the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way praised how Democratic gubernatorial winners in New Jersey and Virginia talked about costs and de-emphasized social issues.
In interviews from David Binder Research, shared first with Semafor, respondents, largely consisting of independent voters, said that Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger was credible when she talked about working with Republicans and didn’t wade into trans rights issues. Politicians who did were “making a mountain of a mud-pile,” one voter said.
New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherill benefitted from attacking GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli’s support for and from the president. And both Sherrill and Spanberger were helped by their national security backgrounds.
“The center-left now has been how candidates can demonstrate that they are a fighter in this moment, that people clearly want some fight without being extreme,” said Third Way Senior Vice President Lanae Erickson.