By Dennis Edwards

Election Day is done. Signs are coming down and political analysis is rampant in every camp.

Across the state, strong to moderate turnout was common. Edison Media Research described it this way: “more likely Democrats, less white, more highly educated than 2009.” Four in 10 voters were Democrats, three in 10 Republican.

In essence this election produced what the Washington Post calls “a major shift from 2009 when Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 4 percent.”

More Virginia voters describe themselves as moderates. There appears to be a strong move away from extremists in the Republican Party. Voters made clear their displeasure with gridlock in Washington. The wife of one federal employee proudly told an exit poller, “I’m here because of the shutdown.” For many voters that was a kind of political last straw.

The voting breakdown reveals some unexpected alliances. A large chunk of the Republican conservative, business and moderate vote went to Terry McAuliffe. It’s clear those wings of the party don’t believe they can talk to the Tea Party. If the issues aren’t addressed, the Tea Party could help create an almost unbeatable coalition of liberal, moderate, conservative, labor and business interests.

Here in Suffolk, negative campaigning took on an intensely personal tone. The sheriff’s son’s behavior seems to have resonated with voters much more than anyone imagined. Perhaps earlier, more thorough, explanations would have helped curb the impact.

For instance, it’s not necessarily common knowledge that state law requires judges and prosecutors to recuse themselves by turning criminal cases over to outside prosecutors and judges when there’s a relationship with a suspect’s family.

But ultimately, the result shows voters were paying strong attention to important details and implications.

There were surprising results out of Jericho, Hollywood and Saratoga, where younger voters played an unexpected role. Perhaps some of those who sometimes find themselves or their loved ones on the wrong side of the law took an opportunity to vote their feelings about a system they believe punishes them more than people of privilege. Perhaps explanations mean less to them than their families’ everyday experience.

Yet, voters are wise to be careful when voting out of frustration. Those emotions can be manipulated by politicians who conceal who they really are and what they really stand for.

Now more than ever, people are voting their experience. They’re paying attention to who’s doing what locally and in Washington. And they’re taking the effects that partisan political decisions have on their pocketbooks, jobs and lifestyles into the voting booth with them.

Dennis Edwards is an Emmy Award-winning television news reporter and anchor, He is a 1974 graduate of Suffolk High School. Email him at dennisredwards@verizon.net.