Virginia, New Jersey governor races could shift government shutdown calculus

Next week s governor races may tell us more about where the shutdown fight is headed than the shutdown itself will show about those elections While the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia will look largely untouched by the lapse in administration funding their results could serve as a barometer for society perception over who s at fault for the standoff dragging out in Washington D C But only if the results stand out Bill Wichterman former special assistant to President George W Bush mentioned the two parties seem entrenched in their positions with no signs of blinking anytime soon Having seen past shutdown conflicts up close as a program advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist R-Tenn and a chief of staff for other offices he believes the electoral contest results would have to look dramatic to change the resolve of lawmakers Let s say it s normally a -point win and it turns out to be a -point win Wichterman mentioned speaking to the possibility of a Democrat winning in both races Yeah that will get people s attention But if it s like a normal -point win whatever the norm is I don t think Republicans will look at that as alarming Both Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey lead their Republican challengers with just a week to go until Vote Day Republicans Winsome Earle-Sears the Virginia candidate and Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey both trail by under points CIATTARELLI HITS SHERRILL FOR VOTING TO AVERT SHUTDOWNS UNDER BIDEN BUT NOT TRUMPIn the aftermath of a presidential polling Wichterman stated a good performance by the minority party isn't particularly surprising that would fit the historical trend for how the inhabitants reacts to a new president of either party A Democratic win in those two states Does that freak out Republicans No they re both blue states Wichterman announced But if Republican gubernatorial candidates can pull upsets Wichterman believes that changes things I think Democrats would look at that and say My gosh we re not doing well What s going on here ' That would be disruptive Governing body funding ran dry on Oct when lawmakers failed to reach an agreement over a Republican-led short-term spending bill that would have kept the administration open through Nov Democrats led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries D-N Y and Chuck Schumer D-N Y have opposed the measure on separate occasions demanding Congress first consider the extension of COVID-era urgency subsidies for Obamacare premiums Republicans have rejected those demands out of hand maintaining that the subsidies have nothing to do with the question of leadership funding SHUTDOWN IGNITES STRATEGIST DEBATE WILL TRUMP AND GOP PAY THE POLITICAL PRICE IN Despite the lapse in funding state-level elections will remain largely unaffected On a practical level the federal ruling body largely leaves states to carry out their own elections and plays a minimal role in their administration In a multitude of cases the federal establishment awards funding for states to update modernize or shore up protection for elections In one of the majority of notable examples the Ballot Assistance Commission EAC doesn t directly help organize state-level elections Instead it helps provide funding for guard and infrastructure-related expenses through grants established by the Help America Vote Act HAVA New Jersey and Virginia have each already received through HAVA grants in Congress approved that funding in appropriation provision earlier this year Wichterman believes that another way that the poll could tip the scales for the shutdown is how the White House reacts Even if lawmakers in Congress stay put after the referendum President Donald Trump s direction over authorities funding could force a change in position for lawmakers So far Trump hasn t budged and has his focus elsewhere On Monday Trump traveled to Japan to meet with the country's emperor among other representatives TRUMP'S SHADOW LOOMS LARGE OVER HEATED RACES ONE MONTH BEFORE VOTING PROCESS DAY I think Democrats have been waiting for Trump to crack on the shutdown Wichterman mentioned And he s not I ve been in lots of shutdown fights starting back in I know what it feels like when you re part of a party that s taking on water Doesn t feel that way on the Republican side yet Democrats expressed similar thoughts as they shot down a supplemental funding bill to pay essential executive workers To them the gridlock on Capitol Hill likely will remain until something provokes Trump to get personally involved in negotiations Sen Chris Van Hollen D-Md believes the president is the only Republican voice that matters He says Jump they say How high And so he s the one that demands to come to the table Van Hollen declared when petitioned about shutdown-ending negotiations