Democrats flipping the Virginia House on Tuesday sparked a flood of mockery of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and his presidential ambitions.
On Tuesday night, Democrats maintained control of the state Senate and regained control of the state House of Delegates in Virginia. It was the opposite of what Youngkin wanted, which was a Republican trifecta that could help easily move his agenda through the Legislature.
The elections served as a test of Youngkin's leadership amid speculation he may be considering a presidential campaign in either 2024 or 2028. The results sparked a flood of mockery from Democrats and Republicans.
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— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) November 8, 2023You really have to applaud the political genius of Glenn Youngkin closing with OF COURSE WE’RE GOING TO BAN ABORTION IF WE WIN.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) November 8, 2023Political analysts have labeled Youngkin as a conservative with some crossover appeal to moderates and Democrats, pointing to his victory in Virginia's 2021 gubernatorial election, when he managed to win the election in a state that has shifted toward Democrats in recent years.
Since then, Youngkin has used his office to show how he might govern if elected president. He has carefully staked out positions on abortion and school choice, aiming to both excite conservative voters while also appeasing moderates in Virginia.
He has notably voiced support for legislation limiting abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy in most cases, a position he has sought to cast as more moderate than more stringent bans embraced by some Republican governors. He also emphasized policies strengthening parental involvement in education during his tenure.
These are two policies that fueled excitement among the GOP's conservative base, and Youngkin campaigned extensively for Republican candidates in battleground legislative seats in hopes of delivering himself a majority for the second half of his term that could enable him to pass more conservative policies.
He defied former President Donald Trump by urging Virginia Republicans to take advantage of early voting, setting up deeply competitive legislative races. However, his efforts fell short on Tuesday night.
Newsweek has reached out to Youngkin's political team via email for comment.
His approach has also drawn comparisons to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose embrace of conservative policy in his state also helped bolster his national profile ahead of his presidential bid. DeSantis was viewed as the strongest Republican to challenge Trump, but his campaign has faltered as the former president continues to dominate polls.
Amid speculation about presidential aspirations, Youngkin has emphasized that he remains focused on his work in Virginia.
"Just to be clear, I have been, and I continue to be focused on Virginia. It is so humbling when people put my name in that circle," he told Washington D.C.-based news station WTTG when pressed about whether he is considering a presidential bid.
Some Republican donors have urged Youngkin to make a late entrance to the Republican presidential primary in 2024, CBS News reported, but doing so may pose challenges.
He has already missed filing deadlines in several early-voting states, and has missed out on the presidential debates.
Some have speculated he may hold off until 2028 to run. Forbes reported Tuesday that he has privately suggested plans to run for president then.
Uncommon Knowledge
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