RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Donald Trump's surprise victory has upended Virginia politics. It diminished the star power of the state's top Democrats and turned the political calculations of the already-in-progress 2017 gubernatorial race upside down. That race is likely to be the most closely watched election in the country next year.
A Hillary Clinton victory would have given a giant boost to top Democrats in Virginia. Running mate Tim Kaine was set to be the next vice president and longtime Clinton friend Gov. Terry McAuliffe was going to be the best connected governor in the country.
But the biggest turmoil from a Trump win may be in the state GOP, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Corey Stewart and Ed Gillespie were already doing battle over who had more legitimate claim Trump's supporters.
