Youngkin releases statement; Chase wants to get rid of new voting access options; and more.
The latest in Virginia politics.
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Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin releases a victory statement
Youngkin released the following statement Wednesday evening:
“Virginians yesterday called for a Commonwealth where we—bonded by the Virginia spirit of liberty and freedom—can all achieve the great Virginia promise, and I am honored and humbled to answer that call. Together, as Virginians, we are going to get to work on Day One to ensure we have better schools, safer streets, a lower cost of living, and more jobs.
“I would like to thank my wife, Suzanne, and our four children for their enduring love and support over the last 40 weeks. And thank you to our Women for Glenn, Latinos for Glenn, Black Virginians for Glenn, Farmers for Glenn, Educators for Glenn, Law Enforcement for Glenn, and all our supporters for their relentless encouragement and tireless efforts to help make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
“To all those who came out to vote for us on Tuesday—thank you. Thank you for standing up for Virginia and entrusting me with your family's futures. To those who voted a different way this time—thank you for fighting for what you believe in. I look forward to coming together and earning your support over the next four years.
“To Terry, Dorothy, and their family, thank you for your past service to the Commonwealth, and I wish you all the best and ask that Virginia join Suzanne and me in doing the same.
“Thank you, Virginia. Let’s get to work—TOGETHER.”
Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin and the current Governor Ralph Northam are scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. today to begin discussions for a smooth transition.
Amanda Chase plans to introduce legislation limiting the new voting methods enacted by Democrats
State Senator Amanda Chase R-Chesterfield said Wednesday that she is drafting legislation to limit mail-in voting and require a photo ID now that Virginia will have a Republican governor. She also plans to push for a forensic audit of Virginia’s 2020 election results after spending recent months traveling the country participating in election audit protests like the one she organized outside of the Virginia State Capitol in August.
”While I’m thankful freedom won this election cycle, I’m still fully committed to election integrity,” Chase tweeted Wednesday, the day after the Republican statewide ticket swept the Democrats. “Tomorrow, I begin drafting legislation to put the guardrails back on our elections including photo ID to vote. Mail in ballots increase the risk of issues.”
The state Senator has made election integrity a priority, even though there has been no evidence to prove any voter fraud in Virginia during the 2020 election. In an interview with Virginia Scope, Chase explained why she wants to limit mail-in absentee voting, something that was significantly expanded under Democratic rule in 2020.
“I think there should be minimal exceptions,” Chase said. “One of the things that I have learned is that you can increase and decrease certain risk factors.” She believes that mail-in voting provides more opportunities for something to go wrong in the voting process. After multiple elections in Virginia, election officials have reported no significant problems with mail-in voting.
She noted that Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin was able to afford poll watchers and lawyers to monitor the process, but she says she wants to change the code to protect the candidates who cannot afford those same accommodations. “We gotta make sure that we secure elections for candidates,” Chase said.
Virginia law does not require a photo ID to vote as long as you sign a form confirming your identity. An analysis from Virginia Mercury earlier this year showed that a very minuscule percentage of voters did not show their photo ID to vote.
While Youngkin has steered clear of election integrity talks and acknowledged that Joe Biden was the 2020 winner, he did speak at a rally over the summer advocating for requiring a photo ID to vote in Virginia. “I’ll ask everyone to show up to vote with a photo ID,” he also said during a gubernatorial debate.
Chase says she will be soon drafting legislation to help the governor-elect make that happen.
“Photo ID is a bill I introduced last session but it was passed by for the year,” Chase continued Wednesday. “I just think it is a good best practice. You have to have a valid photo ID just to live in society here in Virginia and America. I really don’t think that is that heavy of a lift.”
While she made the public statement Wednesday, Chase says she has not talked to Youngkin about it. “I understand what its like to run for governor.”
She told Virginia Scope that she and Youngkin agreed to sit down after the election and talk about her findings from traveling the country looking for election fraud.
Chase plans to continue that effort in Virginia now that Republicans have much more power within the state government. “Now that we will have a Republican Governor, I look forward to seriously pursuing a full forensic audit of the 2020 Pres Election,” Chase tweeted Wednesday. “We were able to learn from 2020 and put extra safeguards in place for 2021. Still much work to do to make sure there’s never a repeat of 2020.”
Virginia election officials reported no problems with the 2020 elections. The results in 2021 were not questioned by Chase or other Republicans this year, however, as they won across the board.
When asked if she wants a forensic audit of the 2021 election results, Chase responded by citing the Virginia Code that already requires an audit of Virginia’s voting machines.
Governor-elect Youngkin did not provide comment for this article.
Changes on the horizon in Virginia after GOP stuns Democrats - Courthouse News
by Brad Kutner
Virginians woke up with new leadership on the horizon Wednesday morning as Republicans, led by businessman and Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin and bolstered by weak Democratic turnout, took control of the top statewide offices and the House of Delegates in the closest watched election of 2021.
It’s been over a decade since Virginians elected a Republican to a statewide seat. While those on both sides of the aisle will spend weeks if not months dissecting Tuesday’s election, the reality of the GOP victories will set in by January for the 2022 legislative session and in legal fights over the coming months.
Wild-card Democratic senators in line to be power players of divided government
by Ned Oliver
With Republicans in Virginia suddenly one Senate seat away from total control of state government, attention turned almost immediately Wednesday to a pair of Democratic senators with a history of siding with the GOP on key issues like education and abortion.
And on Wednesday morning, the two men, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, and Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, appeared to be delighting in a sudden surge of interest in their policy ideas and positions.
Virginia News
Sears elected lieutenant governor; Ayala congratulates victor
Jason Miyares declares victory over incumbent Herring in attorney general’s race
GOP state House winners in Roanoke, New River valleys react to party gaining majority
Filler-Corn not conceding House majority, as GOP finds surprising path to victory
This newsletter will continue to provide coverage of Virginia politics but now it will be with a heavy focus on every change that Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin attempts to make in Virginia. Additionally, we will be providing in-depth coverage of the complicated congressional elections taking place across Virginia in 12 months.
Don’t miss a single move that Youngkin or your favorite congressional candidate makes by becoming a paid subscriber today.
National
7 big cities elected mayors Tuesday. Crime and policing shaped the results.
After loss in Va., Democrats look to speed up their stalled $3 trillion agenda
House Dems’ suburban foundation at risk of crumbling after Tuesday’s results
Murphy’s narrow win in New Jersey does little to ease Democratic anxieties
U.S. children start getting coronavirus vaccines as appointment rush begins
Democrats take on Manchin, make renewed push for family leave
You only have to sign a form confirming your identity if you don't have one of the ACCEPTABLE forms of ID, and the list of what is acceptable includes some without photos (e.g., voter ID card, utility bill and government-issued IDs that may not have a photo): https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/formswarehouse/voter-id/outreach-materials/documents/Voter-Identification-Chart-Rev-4-28-21.pdf