What next? Virginia election might start interesting debate about future

No one really saw the results of Tuesday's Virginia primary coming -- least of all House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

The Republican leader of the House had been polling more than 12 points ahead of his Tea Party rival and political newcomer, David Brat, for most of the campaign.

But then, on Election Day, the numbers switched, and Cantor found himself the same number of points behind the challenger -- and the nation is left scratching its collective head.

So what does this mean?

Is it the sign of a significant shift in how Americans in general and Republicans in specific feel about incumbents and their government?

It is much, much too early to draw such a conclusion -- and not an absolute fact that this election says anything on a national level.

But wouldn't it be interesting if it did?

Perhaps as much as it was a reaction to Cantor's wishy washy views on immigration reform and the fact that many Republicans think the leadership is making just too many concessions, maybe it was also sign that people want to hear from more than just the two parties who have been in power for decades.

Maybe voters are looking for new leaders, new voices and new ideas.

Now, wouldn't that be something? A real debate with some non-traditional contributions and perhaps a few candidates whose views were not predestined by a party machine?

Perhaps it is just a mirage -- or an anomaly.

No matter what -- and there will be lots of debate over the next few months about exactly what it was -- Tuesday's results were more than a little interesting.

Let's hope, in part, that it is a sign that there are some Americans who are starting to expect more, to demand more.

We will have to wait and see.

Published in Editorials on June 11, 2014 11:05 AM