Two Democrats who won gubernatorial races in the swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania delivered similar messages to their national party on Sunday, saying their sharp focus on kitchen-table issues helped secure their victories.
“I can tell you that we’ve stayed focused on the fundamentals, right, whether it’s fixing the damn roads or making sure our kids get back on track after an incredible disruption in their learning, or just solving problems and being honest with the people. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told CNN’s Dana Bash on the “State of the Union.”
CNN predicted Whitmer would win a second term by defeating GOP challenger Tudor Dixon in the key political battleground.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro told Bash in a separate “State of the Union” interview that his campaign’s success came from connecting with voters in often-forgotten areas in rural, suburban and urban areas of the commonwealth . He said his campaign “talked to them about practical things that would make their lives better.”
Shaprio, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, will defeat Republican Doug Mastriano, according to CNN, in the open seat race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Mastriano is one of the staunch 2020 presidential deniers who lost the 2022 races. Dixon in Michigan has also made false claims about the 2020 election.
Whitmer’s and Shapiro’s comments underscore the Democrats’ divergent approaches in the last stretch of the election, when some party members, particularly those in key states, have stressed that the party’s ultimate message should focus on the economy rather than global issues. or more internal issues, such as saving democracy.
“One governor cannot fix global inflation. But what we can do is take steps to keep more money in people’s pockets, protect our right to make our own decisions about our bodies,” Whitmer said. “And all of that was front and center for a lot of Michigan voters, and I suspect it’s probably true for voters across the country.”
Shapiro told Bash that his campaign “showed up and we treated people with respect. And we talked to them about practical things that would make their lives better.”
“We ignored the noise coming out of Washington, D.C. and instead focused on the good people of Washington County, Pennsylvania,” he said, adding that “helping (voters) understand how you can really build a bridge across parties for turn down the heat and get the real stuff done” is key to Democrats making gains with rural voters.
Democrats also secured a crucial victory in Pennsylvania by electing Lt. Gov. John Fetterman to unseat retiring Republican Pat Toomey’s open US Senate seat.
