Many think Virginia's transformation from a ruby red state to a reliably blue one started with the 2017 wave following the 2016 election of Donald Trump. The transformation took much longer. Elected to the House of Delegates together in 2005, David and I had a front row seat. Bellwether captures how changing demographics, national politics, advocacy and organization, and new generations of leadership converged to transform Virginia.
In an era of ugly political polarization, Toscano finds reason for both hope and concern at the state level.
Regardless of one’s political leanings, Bellwether is a valuable book for anyone interested in the public affairs of the Commonwealth. It provides a pragmatic view of the legislative process along with an insider’s perspective on many of the recent policy fights.
Bellwether is a must read for people who want to understand Virginia government over the last several decades. His analysis of change in the culture and its impact on the political and policymaking climate of the state and the nation, provides unique strategic insights from a person who was witness to many of them as Mayor of Charlottsville and during 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates. His perspectives and policies, while different from mine, are thoroughly researched, respectful of others, and clearly expressed. Those interested in what makes Virginia, the cradle of democracy, an exceptional place for innovation and debate, and those who relish a deep dive into the challenges we face ahead as a democracy, will be greatly enriched by reading this account from a thoughtful, civil state leader.
Leader Toscano offers his unique perspective on years of great change in our Commonwealth, as income, educational achievement, and new Virginians surged. The two parties continued to change, growing farther apart, ever more separated by geography, race, and class. David's book provides a fascinating base from which to assess all the changes coming, and the uncertain futures of which facts we believe, who gets to vote, and whether our democracy thrives or wilts.
During his career in Charlottesville local government and the Virginia House of Delegates, David Toscano was “in the room where it happened.” In Bellwether, David opens a door to that room for the reader to see and hear what went on. He reveals not only what happened in government in the Commonwealth for more than a century, but more importantly and most interestingly, why it happened. A must read for anyone interested in the Virginia General Assembly or Virginia politics.
The transformation of Virginia politics over the last two decades is an amazing story. And David Toscano was in the middle of it. While I was Governor, David worked with me to improve Virginia's economic climate and make the Commonwealth a welcoming place for those pursuing the American dream. Bellwether tells the story of this transformation, and students of politics would learn much from its insights.
Both eyewitness and history maker, David Toscano opens a rare and valuable window into the workings of Virginia's 400-year-old legislature. His fascinating vignettes and keen insights give readers an indispensable inside look at his party's dramatic ascent during the polarizing presidency of Donald Trump.
