Governor's races in 2 states echo the White House contest

ALAN SUDERMAN and MICHAEL CATALINI

15 February 2017 at 9:52 am

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 file photo, Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, Corey Stewart, speaks at a campaign kickoff rally in a restaurant in Occoquan, Va. Stewart, a tough-talking former Donald Trump campaign chairman who says the president’s victory has freed candidates to "simply be yourself." (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 file photo, Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, Ed Gillespie, arrives to deliver a speech before a meeting of the Coal & Energy Alliance group in Richmond, Va. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 file photo, Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, Ed Gillespie, right, talks with president of The Virginia Coal and Energy Alliance, Harry Childress, left, after a speech before a meeting of the Coal & Energy Alliance group in Richmond, Va. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

In this Jan. 26, 2016 photo, Virginia Lt. Gov. and Democratic candidate for governor, Ralph Northam, left, talks with Senate Chief Deputy Clerk Tara Perkinson before the start of a Senate session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

In this Jan. 26, 2016 photo Virginia Lt. Gov. and Democratic candidate for governor, Ralph Northam, left, receives papers from Senate page Jacob Ellis, of Virginia Beach, during a Senate session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017 file photo, former Virginia congressman, Tom Perriello, speaks during a rally announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017 file photo, a supporter takes a selfie photo with former Virginia congressman, Tom Perriello, after speaking during a rally in Charlottesville, Va., announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia. In what sounds like an echo of 2016, governor’s races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are being swept up in many of the same political currents that emerged during last year’s turbulent presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 file photo, actor, comedian and radio host Joe Piscopo addresses a gathering during a comedy event to help raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of America at the Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick, N.J. Piscopo is serious when he says he's considering a run for New Jersey governor in 2017. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 file photo, actor, comedian and radio host Joe Piscopo greets a fan during a comedy event to help raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of America at the Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick, N.J. Governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways strikingly similar to the turbulent 2016 presidential campaign. In New Jersey, the former "Saturday Night Live" comic and Trump supporter is considering a run for governor, possibly as an independent. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 file photo, Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy, addresses a gathering in Woodbridge, N.J. Governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways strikingly similar to the turbulent 2016 presidential campaign. Murphy is a former Goldman Sachs executive and Obama administration ambassador to Germany who represents the party's establishment wing. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, D-Sayreville, N.J., stands as he addresses the Assembly in Trenton, N.J. Governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways strikingly similar to the turbulent 2016 presidential campaign. Wisniewski is casting himself as a Bernie Sanders-style insurgent, even though he has been in office for two decades and served as state party chairman. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this Thursday May 5, 2016 file photo, New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, D-Sayreville, N.J., center left, speaks with colleagues in the Assembly Chamber in Trenton, N.J. Governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways strikingly similar to the turbulent 2016 presidential campaign. Wisniewski is casting himself as a Bernie Sanders-style insurgent, even though he has been in office for two decades and served as state party chairman. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 file photo, Republican New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno addresses a gathering of supporters as she announces her candidacy for governor, in Keansburg, N.J. Governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways strikingly similar to the turbulent 2016 presidential campaign. Both races are wide open, with Republican Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey and Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Virginia leaving office because of term limits. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The governor's races this year in Virginia and New Jersey are unfolding in ways that powerfully echo the wild campaign for the White House.

Insurgents are making populist appeals. Establishment figures on are the defensive. In Virginia, there is Corey Stewart, a blunt and combative Republican who sneers at political correctness.

There's even a former TV star in the mix: "Saturday Night Live" comic Joe Piscopo, who is thinking of running in New Jersey.

The two contests for governor are seen by the Democrats as a potential referendum on Donald Trump and an important early test of the party's strength less than a year into his presidency.

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