Where is Gov.-elect Youngkin?
The governor-elect has made no public-accessible appearances since Tuesday.
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider supporting non-partisan, independent news by becoming a paid subscriber today.
Where is Youngkin?
It has been one week since Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin won the race to be Virginia’s next governor. In the days since last Tuesday, Youngkin has made private appearances, visited with Gov. Northam, dealt with an underaged family member trying to vote for him, and made job offers to various Republicans. The next governor of Virginia, however, has said very little publicly and held zero public events.
Youngkin has provided very little information to the press, even though during a brief press conference with Northam last week where he took no questions, Youngkin said he would be open to the press. He has made a few appearances on the Republican-friendly Fox News cable network where he has been asked safe questions.
Youngkin has declined multiple interviews with Virginia Scope since Tuesday, even when the offer was made to provide him an advanced warning on what the general subject area of the interview will contain.
Youngkin and his campaign were very careful to not allow press anywhere near the nominee before the election, though they would often respond when a comment was requested.
While announcements from Youngkin on who will be joining his administration are expected any day, a spokesperson for the governor-elect did not respond to Virginia Scope on Monday when asked how quickly those announcements will be made.
Rumors are swirling among Republican operatives as to who will be joining the administration, anywhere from long-serving state senators to long-serving party operatives are rumored to be joining Youngkin to help provide Virginia-specific experience to the candidate that called himself a “political outsider” at every turn of the campaign.
Stay tuned to this newsletter, we will provide you breaking updates on who the governor-elect hires, as long as he doesn’t keep it a secret for too long.
The House?
As reported yesterday, a verbal agreement between Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Scott) and Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) was reached over the weekend making Gilbert the likely Speaker of the House.
Democrats, on the other hand, have no such agreement yet. While Del. Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax) is being talked about as a replacement for the current Democratic Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, it still seems like an uphill battle. One Democratic delegate called the Simon rumors “unlikely to actually happen,” in a conversation Monday night.
Del. David Reid (D-Ashburn) is a name also being discussed as caucus chair for the Democrats.
Republicans will have a 52-48 majority in the House next year if the recounts in two races do not change the winner.
Both caucuses are expected to meet this Sunday privately as a caucus to hold their votes to elect leadership.
Stay with Virginia Scope to continue to receive updates on these caucus elections.
DPVA Chair?
It is no secret that Terry McAuliffe’s friends and allies are in power at the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA). The party made huge gains during the last four years and passed hundreds of pieces of legislation in that time, but people are looking for a change from Susan Swecker, who has served as party chair since 2015, the longest term for DPVA a chair since the 70s.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney was once the favorite to replace Swecker at the party’s helm. He was co-chair of McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign and was often provided big speaking opportunities on the trail this cycle. With McAuliffe as governor, Stoney as party chair would have been a sure thing.
But Glenn Youngkin’s victory last week woke up a lot of Democrats to the need that change might be necessary if they look to move forward and win in future years.
There have been several names mentioned in the last few days but many of those people have already fizzled out, like Jennifer Carroll Foy, for instance. Sources say she was briefly considering a run for party chair but is no longer doing so.
One name for a new chair has remained relevant among party insiders, outsiders, and operatives since Tuesday: soon-to-be-former Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg).
Virginia Scope has discussed this prospect with Aird and will provide more information and coverage from that conversation in the coming days and weeks.
Become a paid subscriber to see all the news first.
More Virginia Political News:
After Virginia victory, Winsome Sears pulls in fans with lighthearted tweet: ‘We did it, Glenn’
Vote count error prompts Del. Martha Mugler to withdraw concession
What Youngkin’s parole board promise signals for Virginia’s criminal justice system
Richmond school board blocks Kamras' discipline plan for vaccine mandate
National News
The Senate’s year-end to-do list is ‘going to be a train wreck’
Infrastructure bill could power the largest expansion in Amtrak’s history
Biden made huge promises to HBCUs. Can he sell its students on compromise?
Could long covid unlock clues to chronic fatigue and other poorly understood conditions?
Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Trump allies linked to D.C. 'war room'
International travel ban ends as borders open to visitors from dozens of countries
Biden plan to make unvaccinated workers pay for Covid testing could backfire
‘It’s a disgrace’: Progressives take aim at Buffalo mayor’s DNC post
New Jersey’s most powerful Democratic boss predicts midterm carnage
Biden administration: Blocking vaccine mandate could cost ‘hundreds of lives per day’
Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports wages war on Insider over article about his sexual conduct
Here are the six latest Trump allies to be subpoenaed by Jan. 6 panel
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider supporting non-partisan, independent news by becoming a paid subscriber today.