Virginia Dem Explains His Understanding of Rural

You know, one of the many issues with the Democrat Party has been its growing and apparent disdain for working-class Americans, particularly those in rural components of the nation.

We noticed this a lot, for instance, under the Biden-Harris administration, when Americans who have been struggling to make ends meet have been told by Democrats and their media allies that they could not have had it too unhealthy because they have been paying 16 cents less for their Independence Day cookout food than they have been the earlier yr.

Here was another traditional instance of Democrats and their apologists in the press insulting our intelligence that CrimsonState reported on at the time:

Inflation airhead: NBC’s Stephanie Ruhle says the “dirty little secret” of people complaining about paying increased costs for food and fuel for their properties is they’ll afford it just positive. According to her, people ought to have been saving during the pandemic and shares look good. pic.twitter.com/RQ90focIXJ

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 14, 2021

SEE ALSO: Biden WH Dishes Up Shameful Plate of Malarkey About Thanksgiving Prices

Jen Psaki’s ‘Let Them Eat Hot Dogs’ Take on Soaring Prices Doesn’t Go Over Well

Here we’re amid the 2026 midterms marketing campaign season, and Democrats still do not get rural America, as evidenced by an unintentionally hilarious show on Thursday from a Virginia Democrat state senator during a ground debate on the Commonwealth’s gerrymander referendum, which voters narrowly accredited on Tuesday.

Lamont Bagby (D), who represents District 14, which incorporates components of Henrico County and Richmond City, proclaimed that, opposite to what his Republican colleagues said about Democrats not understanding the rural voters whom that they had just disenfranchised, he understood them fairly nicely because he… “grew up with Opie [from the Andy Griffith show]” and watching reveals like The Dukes of Hazzard, and The Waltons. 

He then acknowledged that he wasn’t just representing people who appear like the favored black characters from motion pictures and TV reveals like The Cosby Show, but also those who appear like characters from in style reveals that largely featured white characters, like Boy Meets World.

“And when I believe about why we’re right here, we’re not just right here… I’m not just right here for Theo,” he stated, presumingly referring to “Theo” from The Cosby Show. “I’m not just right here for Arnold or Willis [from Diff’rent Strokes]. I’m right here for Opie, John-Boy, Topanga.”

Turn the volume up and watch and listen to the howls of laughter from his colleagues after he declared, “I believe I do know a little bit about rural America.” He seemed not to like not being taken seriously:

NEW: During a floor debate on gerrymandering, Virginia State Senator Lamont Bagby (D) says he knows a little bit about rural America because he watched Dukes of Hazzard. pic.twitter.com/b3BtbLn4V1

— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) April 23, 2026

Because nothing demonstrates your purported expertise on certain segments of the population better than Hollywood-produced movies and TV shows, right? This was similar to my initial reaction:

https://t.co/B305r6JUm0 pic.twitter.com/XNvwYUa7UQ

— Lake Bum (@dustopian) April 23, 2026

But the great Ed Morrissey, from our sister site Hot Air, nailed it in response, as usual:

I grew up watching Sanford & Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and What’s Happening. I’m ready to lead an NAACP chapter, I guess. https://t.co/2bh1VgDCJK

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) April 23, 2026

I do know a little about Swiss people, because they make chocolate, and cheese with holes in it. https://t.co/SAFvNPZaZF

— Deebs (@DeebsFLA) April 23, 2026

I imply, for years, I’ve watched a lot of real crime documentaries, so I believe that qualifies me to be an professional detective or investigator. Or possibly even an attorney. Does anybody need a lawyer?  I’m prepared. Let’s go!

I truly made this joke to some CrimsonState colleagues, which led to somebody quipping “objection!” as though we have been in a courtroom. When I responded with “sustained!” in return, it was therefore decided that I had what it took to be a decide. BTW, I discovered this from watching many episodes of Matlock. 🙂

See how this works, Democrats?

What better manner to show you recognize nothing about rural Americans than to say you discovered all the pieces you needed to about them from watching sitcoms about them on TV? I imply, the reveals talked about have been great, and there was a lot of good to be discovered from them, but decreasing rural Americans to caricatures of what is seen on TV shouldn’t be the neatest transfer.

I do know the GOP in Virginia has received to be feeling fairly down and out proper about now, but you’ve got gotta start the comeback someplace.  Running advertisements with this man’s message on blast could be a good start, because not only is he a state senator, but he is also the chairman of the state Democrat Party.

Further, rumor has it that he might need designs on one of those newly gerrymandered congressional districts, assuming the referendum is okayed by the state supreme court:

Punchbowl also throws out some attention-grabbing names about Dems who could also be in operating for Congress with a 10D-1 map.

The article mentions Delegate Dan Helmer, Senator Lamont Bagby, and Senator Russet Perry. https://t.co/BHl12Eo4Rn

— Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) February 3, 2026

There’s a lot of work to be completed by the state GOP in the approaching months. This state senator just gave them an opening the dimensions of a Mack Truck (and he is far from the only one, if you watch Virginia politics intently). I recommend they get to it.

Editor’s Note: Republicans are preventing for election integrity by requiring correct identification to vote.

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