On tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. Babbel. A language app that teaches reallife conversations in a new language. Collette. Supporting social entrepreneurs and their solutions to the worlds most pressing problems skollfoundation. Org. The lemelson foundation. Committed to improving lives through invention, in the u. S. And developing countries. On the web at lemelson. Org. Supported by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation. Committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. More information at macfound. Org and with the ongoing support of these institutions this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff from the white house on down, they are still digesting tuesdays Election Results and analyzing the possible trump effect. But two things are already clear democrats are walking a little taller, and republicans are licking their wounds. The Democratic Party is back woodruff for democrats, the Election Night celebrations were a far cry from the bitter defeats, one year ago. Virginia set the tone Lieutenant GovernorRalph Northam won a promotion with his partys first major victory in the trump era. The governorelect and pediatrician said the old dominion answered the call. Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we will not condone hatred and bigotry, and to end the politics that have torn this country apart. Woodruff northam easily defeated republican ed gillespie, 54 to 45 , to keep the Governors Mansion democratic. Gillespie had kept President Trump at arms length, but shared his positions, highlighting immigrant crime and defending confederate monuments. The president did tweet several times in favor of gillespie, and recorded a late robocall of support. But from south korea today, mr. Trump dished criticism, tweeting that gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what i stand for. The democratic tide in virginia also carried other statewide races and added 14 seats in the house of delegates. Democrats need just three more seats with a handful of races yet to be called to retake the chamber for the first time in two decades. One of the winners was danica roem, the first openly transgender candidate to win a seat in any state legislature. We won because i am a transgender woman, because i am a reporter, because i am lifelong resident of manassas, because of my inherent identifiers, not despite them. I never ran away from them. I championed them. Woodruff roem ousted republican bob marshall, one of the states most conservative legislators. He had sponsored a bill that would limit the bathrooms used by transgender people. Meanwhile, in new jersey, democrat Philip Murphy won the governors race, in a pickup for the party. The former Goldman Sachs executive capitalized on deep discontent with republican governor chris christie, who was termlimited. Tonight, we declare the days of division are over. We will move forward together. This is exactly who we are, new jersey. We have each others backs. Woodruff across the country, in washington state, democrats retook the state senate. That move solidified the blue wall of democratic legislative majorities up and down the west coast. Bigcity democratic mayors also won reelection, in new york, boston and detroit. All are critics of President Trump. And, in another slap at the president s policies, maine voted to expand medicaid under obamacare. Here in washington today, republican senators from west virginias Shelly Moore Capito to colorados Corey Gardner offered differing explanations for the defeats. I think this shows, we have to provide results for the American People. We need to tighten up our message. We really need to come through with what were going to do. Woodruff others in the g. O. P. Blamed the losses on candidates not fully backing the president. And we will hear from the head of the Democratic Party, and a top Trump White House official, right after the news summary. In the days other news, the republican tax reform bill that emerged from the u. S. House of representatives ran into new obstacles. The Congressional Budget Office reported that it would add at least 1. 7 trillion to deficits over ten years. That may be more than allowed under budgetary rules. The c. B. O. Also said repealing obamacares mandate that individuals buy Health Care Insurance would save 338 billion over a decade, to help finance tax cuts. But, that is less than first estimated. Vice president pence traveled today to the texas town where a gunman killed more than two dozen people. He was greeted by Governor Greg Abbott in san antonio, and later, met with First Responders and victims families in sutherland springs. Meanwhile, u. S. Defense secretary james mattis ordered a review of the air forces failure to enter the gunmans criminal history into an f. B. I. Database. The Trump Administration has reinstated restrictions on americans visiting cuba, under a new policy announced in june. Individual travel is largely eliminated in favor of organized tour groups run by u. S. Companies. And dozens of hotels and other businesses are blacklisted over their links to cubas military, intelligence and security services. President trumps nominee for secretary of homeland security, kirstjen nielsen, had her confirmation hearing today. She was picked after her boss, secretary john kelly, became white house chief of staff. Today, nielsen echoed kellys position on the president s call for a wall along the mexican border. There is no need for a wall from sea to shining sea. What we need to do is work with the operators. Should i be confirmed, i look forward to speaking with state and local officials, those on the ground, both Law Enforcement and federal Law Enforcement, to understand where we need some sort of physical barrier. Woodruff nielson drew heat from Democratic Senators when she said it is not clear if humans are the primary cause of climate change. The nominee to be the president s top environmental adviser faced similar questions, at a separate hearing. Kathleen Hartnett White said she is not persuaded by a new federal finding that manmade Carbon Emissions are the main cause of global warming. Instead, she repeated her view that Carbon Dioxide is a plant nutrient, and not a pollutant. The u. S. Air force academy now says that an apparent racial incident was a hoax. It turns out that it was a black student who, in september, wrote the racial slurs outside dorm rooms at the academys prep school. The initial incident prompted lieutenant jay silveria, the academys superintendent, to give a stern speech to cadets, condemning racism. Former president obama will not be serving on a chicago jury, after all. He reported for duty today, only to be dismissed. His appearance caused a stir at Cook County Court offices. He went through the standard procedure for prospective jurors, including watching a 20minute informational video. And on wall street, the Dow Jones Industrial average gained six points to close at 23,563. The nasdaq rose 21, and the s p 500 added three. And, pope francis is urging the faithful, including the clergy, to put down their cell phones during public masses at the vatican and pray, instead. The pontiff told the crowd in st. Peters square today that taking pictures during the service is an ugly thing. And, he said, the mass is not a show, so remember, no cell phones. Still to come on the newshour i speak to the democratic chairman on his partys big wins in yesterdays election. And, i sit down with the white house legislative director, as the g. O. P. Pushes its tax plan in congress. Plus, china rolls out the red carpet for President Trump. And much more. Woodruff we return now to our top story the Democratic Partys big victories last night and the message voters sent to washington. I spoke with tom perez, the chairman of the Democratic National committee, about this earlier today and what lead to the partys success. I think were making real progress, judy. We had a very good night last night. We put our game plan into action. Our game plan is organizing organizing organizing. Make sure we come together with our unity. We saw that in virginia where you had a spirited democratic primary where everyone took the high road. We had great turnout in the primary and that was a bellweather of a general election with record turnout. And same thing in new jersey. Phil murphy. When we lead with our values and we put those values into action, whether its healthcare for all, that was a big issue in virginia and new jersey. Talking about education reform. That was another big issue in those areas. When were leading with our values and when were out there talking to everyone. And when were rubbing people up and down the broth. That was credit cree important. In virginia, democrats have not won as many seats as they won last night. The last time that happened was in the 19th century. Thats a real bellweather of the wave that occurred last night in virginia. Woodruff thats true, all true but you still have republicans in the majority of governor seats, control of the house, the senate and the white house. Democrats still have a big hill to climb. I couldnt agree more. Last night was a really remarkable start but its a start. Were no where near the sum of the mountain but we we know what works. We have to go to the basics. Recruiting new tickets. The new dnc is to help elect democrats up and down the tickets from the school board to the oval office. We were too focused on simply a new president every four years. We changed that mission and making sure we are invested everywhere. Woodruff let me ask about your major because some are saying still the democratic message is too much antidonald trump and not enough something positive. I tell you the candidates that were running yesterday, were talking about the issue that people cared about the most. Ralph is a healer, the governor elect of virginia. Hes talking about healthcare the right for all and not a privilege for the few. The number one issue for voters in virginia was healthcare. They understand that ralph is going to help them expand medicaid and not take away their access to healthcare. Same thing in new jersey. Real concerns on that area. Woodruff what is your advice, tom perez, though, for democrats running next year. We know right now for example you got democrats in the senate talking to President Trump. There was a meeting just yesterday and his people about tax reform. Should democrats especially democrats in red states, states that donald trump won, should they try to work with this president to get things done or should they oppose him at every step . Well listen, if we can work in a bipartisan fashion, weve always been for that. The Affordable Care act is a great example. Patty murray and Lamar Alexander is working on a bill to stabilize the markets. What the republicans have been trying to do is just repeal with nothing else. We need to amend obamacare not end it. And the voters in virginia especially sent a very clear message to the republicans that when you try to take away our healthcare, were going to vote against you. So when we can find common ground, we try. But the current tax bill that has been put forth is not refoacial. Its a massive give away to revery wealthy people and corporations at the expense of middle class families. And working people. Woodruff so are you saying they should not work with the administration to try to shape that at all or what . No, judy. Im saying quite the contrary. We have a vision for helping to bring about tax fairness. This is not tax reform, though. The challenge that we have, used eye, is the republicans dont want to work with us. This bill is a disaster for so many millions of americans. And theyre just trying to ram it through before people can actually see the type print. Woodruff let me finally ask you what is the democrats message to scroarts i voters in, voters who voted for donald trump. I assume youre going to say youre not writing them off. What is your judy our motto of the new dnc is every zip code counts. We can win everywhere. We won three special elections in oklahoma earlier this year in the state legislature. How did we do that . We had a great candidates. We delivered a clear message. In oklahoma the message was education. He can case is the great actizer. And in own were engaged in radical right wing engineering to make Public Education a shell of what it needs to be. And then boots on the ground. Were competing everywhere because i believe that the message of healthcare is a right for all and not a privilege for a few. That resonates in rural america, it resonates in urban america, it resonates in kentucky, it resonates in new york city. And when we lead with those values, were fighting for Economic Opportunity for everyone. We believe in shared prosperity for everyone, not simply prosperity for a few at the top. And we believe in the bold possibilities of this nation. And we want to make sure everybody has the tools to realize their highest and best dreams. We want an america that people can be proud of. Rue it now people arent proud of what they see this president do day in and day out. Hes a divider not a uniter. I think the voters spoke very loudly and clearly about that yesterday. We want uniters. Woodruff tal tom perez the chairman of the Democratic Party. Thank you very much. Pleasure to be with you judy. Woodruff now for the Trump Administrations perspective on last nights results, and what they may mean for the president s agenda. With me now, the white house director of legislative affairs, marc short. Thank you very much for being with us. So you just heard marc short what tom perez, the chairman of the Democratic Party had to say, that democrats can are recruiting strong candidates everywhere. And this was a strong beginning for them. How do you see it yesterdays results. Judy, thanks for having me on first. I think as we look over the last year, theres no doubt the democrats secured two victories last night in democrat state and yet republicans have won five congressional seats that were open seats. On the federal level weve continued to add. We have 240 House Republicans now hoping to advance our agenda. I think people can read a lot into each of their things they want in reality virginia continues to shift to the left. Beginning to become more of a democrat state. I dont think its a surprise they won last night. I think eds a very talented and smart political advisor but i dont think we were that surprised of the results. Woodruff youre not surprised. We noticed of course the president as soon as the results were called in virginia, the president was pretty critical of he had gillespie. He said he didnt embrace me enough. What more should ed gillespie have done. I think we were disawe powntd in his defeat but i think the president was making the point the president wasnt invited to come into the state and campaign with ed and he felt certainly the left was animated and rallied and unfortunately i dont think we activated our base on the same way on the republican side. I think thats simply the point the president s making but again we take comfort in the republican seats weve continued to hold on. In many cases special elections in georgia, people predicting democrats were going to take the seats away from us but we didnt. We won in monday and last night in utah. Woodruff she thought ed gillespie did sufficiently embrace the president in the campaign. I think that again, i believe that ed is one of the smartest political people i know. Hes won a lot of races are for other people. I think unfortunately this is a difficult year for him to run. Its a state thats become more and more democrat over the years. Woodruff what we are seeing marc short, though, in virginia and other places where there were races yesterday is energy on the part of democrats can. Of them do seem to be motivated to defeat republicans, to defeat the president. How worried are you and others in the white house about that next year in the midterm . I think that next years a long way off judy. The way we can make sure our base animated is to mac sure we deliver on the promises we made. When you look back to when the president was elected there are things he campaigned o he campaigned on the Supreme Court which he delivered on with judge gorsuch. He campaigned on regulatory relief which hes delivered on. He campaigned on tax relief which is about to run. One of our challenges right now though one of his promise was repealing obamacare. After six years of Campaign Promises that republicans would do that when given the chance they didnt. I think you saw a lot of depressed excitement among republicans after the summer when that effort failed. We have to get back delivering what we promised to do. Woodruff speaking about that one of the things youre trying to deliver on is tax reform. Its originated a plan, the proposal originated in the house but es already running into some head winds. Just today you have the boy partisan joint bipartisan joint Congressional Committee on taxation sa