Comedy Gold: Virginia Dem Explains His 'Understanding' of Rural Voters, Own Goals His Party Instead

You know, one of the many problems with the Democrat Party has been its increasing and obvious disdain for working-class Americans, especially those in rural parts of the country.

We saw this a lot, for example, under the Biden-Harris administration, when Americans who were struggling to make ends meet were told by Democrats and their media allies that they couldn't have had it too bad because they were paying 16 cents less for their Independence Day cookout food than they were the previous year.

Here was another classic example of Democrats and their apologists in the press insulting our intelligence that RedState reported on at the time:

Inflation airhead: NBC's Stephanie Ruhle says the "dirty little secret" of people complaining about paying higher prices for food and fuel for their homes is they can afford it just fine. According to her, people should have been saving during the pandemic and stocks look good. pic.twitter.com/RQ90focIXJ
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 14, 2021

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

Here we are amid the 2026 midterms campaign season, and Democrats still don't get rural America, as evidenced by an unintentionally hilarious display on Thursday from a Virginia Democrat state senator during a floor debate on the Commonwealth's gerrymander referendum, which voters narrowly approved on Tuesday.

Lamont Bagby (D), who represents District 14, which includes parts of Henrico County and Richmond City, proclaimed that, contrary to what his Republican colleagues said about Democrats not understanding the rural voters whom they had just disenfranchised, he understood them quite well because he... "grew up with Opie [from the Andy Griffith show]" and watching shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, and The Waltons.

He then stated that he wasn't just representing people who look like the popular black characters from movies and TV shows like The Cosby Show, but also those who look like characters from popular shows that mostly featured white characters, like Boy Meets World.

“And when I think about why we’re here, we’re not just here... I’m not just here for Theo," he stated, presumingly referring to "Theo" from The Cosby Show. "I'm not just here for Arnold or Willis [from Diff'rent Strokes]. I’m 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 think I 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 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 mean, for years, I've watched a lot of real crime documentaries, so I think that qualifies me to be an expert detective or investigator. Or maybe even an attorney. Does anyone need a lawyer? I'm ready. Let's go!

I actually made this joke to some friends, which led to someone quipping "objection!" as though we were in a courtroom. When I responded with "sustained!" in return, it was therefore determined that I had what it took to be a judge. By the way, I learned this from watching shows like Matlock over the years. :)

See how this works, Democrats?

What better way to prove you know nothing about rural Americans than to say you learned everything you needed to about them from watching sitcoms about them on TV? I mean, the shows mentioned were great, and there was a lot of good to be learned from them, but reducing rural Americans to caricatures of what is seen on TV is not the smartest move.

I know the GOP in Virginia has got to be feeling pretty down and out right about now, but you've gotta start the comeback somewhere. Running ads with this guy's message on blast would be a perfect start, because not only is he a state senator, but he's also the chairman of the state Democrat Party.

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

Punchbowl also throws out some interesting names about Dems who may be interested in running 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 done by the state GOP in the coming months. This state senator just gave them an opening the size of a Mack Truck (and he's far from the only one, if you watch Virginia politics closely). I suggest they get to it.

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

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