Hard-line Republican policies on immigration have helped drive immigrant voters to Democrats. Couple that with suburban women gravitating to the party, and it is a coalition so large in number that it is difficult to beat.

Republicans have not won statewide in Virginia since 2009. The next major test will be the Senate race in 2018, when Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate last year, will seek a second term. His prospects now look much better.

Pragmatism wins over purity.

Progressives who did not enthusiastically back Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, will be rethinking their theory of the race. Mr. Northam had a résumé that fit the profile of his state. He is an Army veteran, a physician and a moderate politically. He was, in a word, electable.

That does not mean the friction between the institutional party Democrats and those in the Bernie Sanders wing will fade. But the lesson from Virginia is that those fights in the primary are fine as long as each side coalesces behind the nominee. Mr. Northam defeated former Representative Tom Perriello, who was favored by progressives. But Mr. Perriello worked energetically for Mr. Northam’s election.

Red counties stay red.