--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia…" description: "\"Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia major party candidate to lose a gubernatorial election when his party did not control the White House in 40 ye..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/harry-enten-5474_control_ken-cuccinelli-became-the-first-virginia_1353799.jpg" --- # Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia major party… ![“Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia major party candidate to lose a gubernatorial election when his party did not control the White House in 40 years. He lost to Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is about as popular in Virginia as the Dallas Cowboys.” quote by Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/harry-enten-5474_control_ken-cuccinelli-became-the-first-virginia_1353799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/harry-enten-5474_control_ken-cuccinelli-became-the-first-virginia_1353799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/harry-enten-5474_control_ken-cuccinelli-became-the-first-virginia_1353799.jpg) > “Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia major party candidate to lose a gubernatorial election when his party did not control the White House in 40 years. He lost to Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is about as popular in Virginia as the Dallas Cowboys.” [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights a rare political outcome where a major party candidate lost a governor race without the party holding the presidency for decades, emphasizing the difficulty of winning without national momentum. **In simple terms:** A Virginia governor candidate lost despite party not controlling White House for 40 years. Key Takeaway Recognize how national trends affect local elections. Themes politics election dynamics party influence Mood analytical critical Type political observational When to use this quote - campaign planning - voter outreach - media strategy Key Concepts electoral strategy political cycles regional vs national power Questions to Reflect On - How do national party fortunes impact state races? - What strategies can counteract national disadvantages? A Different Perspective Local issues can outweigh national party strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidate Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-lose-4612220/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Cuccinelli Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuccinelli-virginia-4612219/) [Dallas cowboys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dallas-cowboys/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Gubernatorial Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gubernatorial-election-4612221/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Gubernatorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-gubernatorial-4612218/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of the day, football is just part of me, it's my love, my passion and my drive. But I understand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/at-the-end-of-the-day-football-is-just-part-of-me-it-s-my-love-my/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [As much as I love the Dallas Cowboys, I love the United States of America more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/as-much-as-i-love-the-dallas-cowboys-i-love-the-united-states-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [“Tom Landry, coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team for most of three decades, said, “The job of a football coach is to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/tom-landry-coach-of-the-dallas-cowboys-football-team-for-most-of/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [My favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-hall/my-favorite-teams-are-the-dallas-cowboys-and-the-new-york-jets/) [Bridget Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-hall/) > [I'm looking forward to being a supporter of the Dallas Cowboys. I want to watch them win another Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-m-looking-forward-to-being-a-supporter-of-the-dallas-cowboys-i-want/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [There was no excuse for Dallas Cowboys to lose to Washington. Rivalry or not, Redskins are a bad team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/there-was-no-excuse-for-dallas-cowboys-to-lose-to-washington-rivalry/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [For 30 years I wrote for newspapers and magazines, wrote books on the Dallas Cowboys' dynasties of the '70s and '90s, wrote about Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/for-30-years-i-wrote-for-newspapers-and-magazines-wrote-books-on-the/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [My first cat was named Cowboy, after the Dallas Cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bush/my-first-cat-was-named-cowboy-after-the-dallas-cowboys/) [Jenna Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bush/) > [“Suddenly I realized I was standing on the hot wood of the dock, still touching elbows with Adam, staring at the skull-and-crossbones pendant. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/suddenly-i-realized-i-was-standing-on-the-hot-wood-of-the-dock-still/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [I understand what's expected of me. I understand the lineage for the running back position of the Dallas Cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-understand-what-s-expected-of-me-i-understand-the-lineage-for-the/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [Dallas Cowboys may be America's team, but the Houston Oilers are Texas' team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/dallas-cowboys-may-be-america-s-team-but-the-houston-oilers-are-texas/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I grew up in Orange County, without a team. I never affiliated myself with the Chargers, south of me, or the Raiders, north of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-grew-up-in-orange-county-without-a-team-i-never-affiliated-myself/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [It's funny, but when there are dominant teams, there are a number of people who rail about the fact that they're always seeing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-michaels/it-s-funny-but-when-there-are-dominant-teams-there-are-a-number-of/) [Al Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-michaels/) > [The Dallas Cowboys have 2 types of plays in their playbook. Passing plays, and running plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/the-dallas-cowboys-have-2-types-of-plays-in-their-playbook-passing/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [I don't think I can fully explain what happens when you take on the role of quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes, I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-don-t-think-i-can-fully-explain-what-happens-when-you-take-on-the/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) ## More by Harry Enten > [Those who have followed my writing know that I don't think Wendy Davis has a very good chance of being elected governor of Texas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/those-who-have-followed-my-writing-know-that-i-don-t-think-wendy/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [There's room for more than one great team in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/there-s-room-for-more-than-one-great-team-in-the-nfl/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [There is no real correlation between how late or how early a field forms and the eventual nominee's success in the general election. Democrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/there-is-no-real-correlation-between-how-late-or-how-early-a-field/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [The ability of a manager to be the driving force of a team is overrated, even when you associate historic teams (think the 1950s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/the-ability-of-a-manager-to-be-the-driving-force-of-a-team-is/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [Those that know me understand that I hate any turn of the phrase 'permanent majority.' I almost always believe that there are larger, mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/those-that-know-me-understand-that-i-hate-any-turn-of-the-phrase/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [Riding a wave of anti-establishment and anti-Obama anger, Tea Party candidates knocked off Democrats and Republicans alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/riding-a-wave-of-anti-establishment-and-anti-obama-anger-tea-party/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [I'll never stop loving Election Night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/i-ll-never-stop-loving-election-night/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [Tropical storm force winds can be dangerous to those who are caught out in them. They could knock down some trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/tropical-storm-force-winds-can-be-dangerous-to-those-who-are-caught/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [Texas Senator Ted Cruz is seen as a figurehead for Tea Party conservatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/texas-senator-ted-cruz-is-seen-as-a-figurehead-for-tea-party/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [The Super Bowl and the NFL in general seem to bring together Americans in a way few other things can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/the-super-bowl-and-the-nfl-in-general-seem-to-bring-together/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [One fascinating element of the Biden presidency has been how Americans still seem to be entranced with Trump, even though he is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/one-fascinating-element-of-the-biden-presidency-has-been-how/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [The Super Bowl is a bunch of shows wrapped into one. It's the only spectacle I know of where people watch just for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/the-super-bowl-is-a-bunch-of-shows-wrapped-into-one-it-s-the-only/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [In an era of streaming and cable television, most programs capture only a small portion of America's over 330 million-person population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/in-an-era-of-streaming-and-cable-television-most-programs-capture/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [My study of past elections in which there was a dominant issue other than the economy indicates that whomever is most trusted on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/my-study-of-past-elections-in-which-there-was-a-dominant-issue-other/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [When I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/when-i-m-wrong-i-say-i-m-wrong/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) [Explore all 100 Harry Enten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) [Thomas Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-miller/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ken Cuccinelli became the first Virginia major party candidate to lose a gubernatorial election when his party did not control the White House in 40 years. 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