Virginia just elected a new governor, and while the campaign rhetoric was heavy on moderation and reassurance, the early signals out of Richmond tell a very different story. What we are seeing now should concern every Virginian — Republican, independent, and even Democrats who believed they were voting for balance rather than ideology.

The policy direction already being floated, and in some cases implemented, by Democrats in Richmond looks strikingly familiar to anyone who has watched states including New York (where I was born and raised in upstate), California, or Illinois over the past decade: higher taxes, expanded government, less safety, gross partisanship, and an open hostility to the families and businesses that actually fuel economic growth. The lesson from those states is clear: When taxes go up and regulation tightens, or public safety erodes, people vote with their feet.