TUESDAY’S ELECTION results are studied and debated about their possible significance for 2022 (Shutterstock).

“Morning after” parsing of Tuesday’s electoral results continues on Wednesday about results that have generally been considered bad news for Democrats.

In Virginia, a state that went for Joe Biden in 2020 by a margin of 10 points over then-president Donald Trump, Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe by 50.9 percent to 48.4 percent in the race for governor.

It was the first statewide win for a GOP candidate since 2009.  A new Republican lieutenant governor was also elected.

In New Jersey Democratic incumbent governor David Murphy posted a narrow win – 50.02 percent over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli’s 49.23 –  according  to The New York Times. New Jersey also went heavily for Biden last year. He was the first Democrat to win back-to-back terms as governor in the Garden State since 2007.

Biden said that the election results were not a rejection or him or his policies, but did emphasize that Democrats in Congress need to “produce for the American people,” according to The New York Times.

Two of his signature proposals – a $1 trillion infrastructure deal and a $1.75 trillion social safety and climate change package – have been held up in part because of differences between progressives and centrists in his party.

Paid family leave idea restored

U.S. CAPITOL, seat of Congress (Shutterstock).

After having once been cut in an attempt to trim the size of President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.75 trillion “Build Back Better Act,” paid family leave has been restored to the package.

According to United Press International, workers would be allowed to take paid time off of their jobs following the adoption or birth of a child, or when caring for an ill family member.

The legislation is still being considered in the House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a narrow edge.

Also in the news ….

• The drone strike that killed 10 people – including seven children – in Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan – was classed as “an honest mistake” by the Pentagon on Wednesday, according to USA Today.
• “Sabotage” could be the cause of the fatal shooting on the set of the “Rust” movie. An attorney for the armorer suggested that someone might have planted a live bullet in the pistol while it was unattended.

Sports: Aaron Rodgers sidelined by COVID-19

AARON RODGERS (Wikipedia).

Green Bay Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not be playing in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs because he has tested “positive” for coronavirus. Backup Jordan Love will start as signal-caller.

According to published reports, Rodgers has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, although he said he had been “immunized.”

Rodgers, a sure-to-be Hall of Famer, was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2011, 2014 and 2020. The Packers are 7-1 and atop the NFC North Division. The Chiefs are 4-4 and tied third in the AFC West

Weather:  Up and then down, down …

Daytime temperatures in the West Orange County area will rise for a day, then gradually cool through the weekend under partly cloudy skies. Thursday is forecast for a high of 73 (54 overnight) rising to 75 on Friday before dropping to 72 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday. In coastal areas of Huntington Beach, Thursday’s high should be 69 (55 overnight), rising to 71 on Friday before declining to 70 on Saturday and 68 on Sunday. Dense offshore fog is expected through “at least Thursday morning” according to the National Weather Service.