Virginia’s red wave hit high tide last Saturday, when the state swore in its new Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin–and pointed the way forward for a GOP that hopes to rebound from the presidential defeat of 2020.
Since the exit of a disgraced Republican governor a decade ago, the recent Amazon factory move, and the immigration of Washingtonians into Virginia, the Commonwealth has become dependably blue.
But on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin shocked the Virginia polls, the country, and the entire CNN staff with his two-point victory over former Democrat Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the Old Dominion’s gubernatorial election.
But you attend college in Michigan in the state’s reddest county: why should you care?
First of all, have you seen the gas prices?
Youngkin’s Virginia victory showed D.C. Democrats and the Biden administration that their agenda, record, and rhetoric do not bode well for them in the 2022 midterm elections or the 2024 presidential election. This gubernatorial election explains and predicts a broader, national political pattern.
Youngkin ran a positive campaign with his kind character to back him up. But, that didn’t stop him from running a rampage against Critical Race Theory in schools, COVID-19 vaccines, mask mandates, the anti-law enforcement movement, and the failing Biden administration.
Youngkin effectively mobilized the moms of Loudon County against CRT, used social media, and expanded the campaign budget for what feels like the first time in Republican history. Youngkin heard Virginians who were tired of big government encroaching on their businesses, and his positive message gave us loyal Virginians hope that we might be able to– for lack of a better phrase– make the Commonwealth great again.
“I think it was a trial run,” Virginia Sen. Mark Obenshain told The Collegian. “Both sides got to try out their best weapons to see how they work and how to defend them.”
Democrats and McAuliffe attempted to turn Youngkin into a Trump figure, but it failed miserably.
“They tried to paint Glenn Youngkin as a Trump-clone, but people looked at him and realized that this vest-wearing northern Virginia businessman doesn’t seem like what the democrats were portraying him as,” Obenshain said.
Youngkin, in reality, could not be a kinder, more faithful man. Youngkin is, as Obenshain attested, a sincere, humble man.
“With Glenn Youngkin what you see is what you get. The sincerity factor is low amid politicians,” Obenshain said.
Yet, a Trump-centric campaign will be the Democrats’ strategy in 2022.
“They think Trump’s so radioactive that people will ignore that gasoline costs $4 a gallon and that their kids haven’t been in school for two years,” Obenshain said
Youngkin’s victory demonstrated that a positive, disciplined campaign backed by a good, personable candidate will win the ticket on the national stage in 2022 against negative, nasty, and out-of-touch opponents.
Republicans around the country should take notes and Democrats should take heed.
