“Nine months ago, Democrats at every stratum in Virginia called on Gov. Ralph Northam to resign over a racist photograph on his medical school yearbook page,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Northam bumbled his response, admitting he was in the picture before saying he was not, then seemed like he might demonstrate Michael Jackson’s moonwalk at a news conference where he acknowledged blackening his face for a dance contest.”

“Now, after Democrats won control of the Legislature on Tuesday, Mr. Northam is positioned to be the most consequential Democratic governor in America in 2020, aiming to enact strong gun restrictions and LGBTQ protections and clear the way to take down Confederate statues — all potential headline-making changes that could galvanize the party base nationally in the presidential race.”

“Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is wielding renewed power as Virginia’s chief executive four months after nearly resigning over a racism scandal that his own party said left him unable to lead,” the Washington Post reports.

“Emboldened by encouraging internal poll numbers and growing support from fellow Democrats — though most never retracted their calls for him to step down — Northam is becoming more assertive.”

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) “appears to have quelled any widespread public clamor for his resignation in the wake of his blackface scandal,” Politico reports.

“Two new polls out Wednesday show pluralities say the Democrat should not quit or be forced out over a racist photo that appeared on his medical-school yearbook page 35 years ago. Most African-American voters agree that he shouldn’t go, according to one of the surveys.”