Melanie Goux on Virginia’s Democratic Primary, the DGA’s Role, Georgia Politics, and the Revamp of Blog for Democracy

This episode opens with light banter before turning to a detailed discussion of the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary. The panel—David, Tim, and Catherine—analyzes the surprise victory of Creigh Deeds, who surged late after conserving resources and benefiting from a Washington Post endorsement. Terry McAuliffe’s campaign faded, while Brian Moran never gained traction. The hosts note Republican unease, as Deeds’ rural, moderate profile could appeal to voters who typically resist Democratic candidates, a concern reinforced by early polling showing Deeds leading Republican Bob McDonnell.The conversation explores why moderation continues to succeed in Virginia politics, including Deeds’ relatively conservative stance on gun issues, which failed to hurt him in the primary. Catherine highlights the role of voter perception over policy detail and praises McAuliffe’s quick and gracious post-loss support of Deeds. The group debates whether newspaper endorsements still matter and examines how agile, fast-moving campaigns have become. Attention then shifts to the Democratic Governors Association’s controversial decision to endorse McAuliffe in a primary. The panel largely agrees national party organizations should avoid picking favorites in multi-candidate primaries, drawing comparisons—often rejected—between Virginia and Georgia’s upcoming gubernatorial race. They discuss Roy Barnes, DeVos Porter, and other Georgia figures, concluding that Georgia’s political landscape is fundamentally different. The episode’s guest, Melanie Goux then joins to discuss a major redesign of Blogs for Democracy. She outlines new topic-driven sections—ranging from politics and law to sports, fashion, books, film, and pop culture—and explains how professional journalists and diverse contributors are expanding the site while maintaining its progressive roots.