Youngkin starts the pivot; DPVA is afraid of losing in Nov; Spanberger sends Biden a letter; more from Virginia politics

The latest in Virginia politics

May 13, 2021

Youngkin tries to appease the party base and moderates as he pivots to November

The newly-crowned Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin is attempting to drive the narrow road of appeasing the party base while simultaneously appealing to moderates that are necessary to win in November.

Youngkin made a large part of his campaign for the Republican nomination about election integrity and traveled the commonwealth in the final days before the convention with Ted Cruz, a leader in the effort to oppose the 2020 election results before Jan 6.

Youngkin’s campaign launched an election integrity taskforce in February with the goal of ensuring trust in election results. “I will ensure that all legal votes will count in Virginia,” he said in the announcement at the time. “I hope all Virginians will join my campaign’s official Election Integrity Task Force and stand up for our democracy.”

But now that he has earned his party’s nomination, Youngkin is softening on the issue — slightly.

In an interview with David Westin of Bloomberg News, Youngkin was asked how he would respond when asked if the 2020 election was legitimate. “I’m saying, of course! He’s our president. He slept in the White House last night. He’s addressed a Joint Session of Congress. He’s signing executive orders that I wish he wasn’t signing,” Youngkin said in response.

Election integrity in an integral talking point for Republicans after former President Donald Trump refused to accept the results of his race against Joe Biden. But even as he continues to push unproven election-conspiracy theories, a recent poll showed that more than 80% of Virginia Republicans still have a favorable opinion of Trump — making it necessary for GOP candidates to appeal to his supports in their stump speech.

But Virginia voted for Biden by 10 points and has not elected a Republican statewide since 2009 when Bob McDonnell won the Executive Mansion — hence the narrow road Youngkin must drive down.

Virginia has typically voted opposite of the party in the White House when choosing a governor, but that trend changed in 2013 when far-right candidate Ken Cuccinelli barely lost to Terry McAuliffe, the likely candidate for the Democrats again this year.

Republicans see this year as the best opportunity to reinstate the trend of contradicting the White House.

Youngkin is the former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. He has amassed a massive personal fortune and is expected to use that fortune as a weapon in the race.

There were signs in the GOP nomination race of Youngkin preparing for the general election when he did not seek out the endorsements or support of the NRA or VCDL, the two major gun groups in Virginia that have often been a driving force for Democratic activist groups to run against.

Additionally, Republicans elected a latino man for attorney general, Del. Jason Miyares, and a Black woman for lieutenant governor, Winsome Sears, providng diversity to a ticket that could be the extra boost they need in November.

But 10 points is still a lot to make up and the likely Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe has nearly unanimous name ID after already winning statewide in 2013.

Democrats choose their nominee on June 8 in a statewide primary.

Terry McAuliffe released an ad comparing Youngkin to Trump

Marcus Simon Becomes 36th General Assembly Member To Endorse Terry McAuliffe for Governor

“For far too long, our criminal justice system has disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities. By taking away these individuals’ voting rights, we continue to treat them as second-class members of society, even after they have paid their debt to society,” said Delegate Marcus Simon. “Terry McAuliffe made restoration of rights one of the most important issues in his administration and reversed a decades-old Jim Crow era law. As governor, Terry restored more voting rights than any governor previously -- to 173,000 Virginians. He has demonstrated his ability to get things done during his time in office, and I know that once he’s back in Richmond, he’ll do it again.”

Jennifer Carroll Foy Earns Endorsement from Feminist Gloria Steinem

“Jennifer Caroll Foy is the only candidate with the proven ability to take on the status quo that has left women behind,” said Steinem. “She’s been a champion for justice her entire life — from breaking barriers as one of the first women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute, to leading the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia and expanding access to reproductive freedom. I’m honored to support Jennifer and I can't wait to see her make history this year.”

DPVA: Glenn Youngkin Can’t Run from His Support for Donald Trump’s Big Lie

The Democratic Party of Virginia released the following statement from spokesman Manuel Bonder on Wednesday:

“Glenn Youngkin doesn’t get a pass after months perpetuating Donald Trump’s dangerous lie that led to the January 6th insurrection and cost American lives. Until Youngkin denounces this lie and clearly says Donald Trump lost to President Biden in a free, fair, and legitimate election, we’ll take him at his word that he believes ‘election integrity’ is the most important issue in this race.”

Youngkin will forever be guilty of advancing Trump’s far-right extremism — and he will be held accountable for it.”

Democratic Party of Virginia fears a potential loss in November

In an email to supporters yesterday, the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) stressed their fear of losing to Glenn Youngkin this November.

“We've been saying for months that this year's election is going to be close and some national election experts are starting to agree,” DPVA wrote in their email. They then shared the following tweet from elections prognosticator Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report:

Dave Wasserman tweet: I think Republicans actually have a good chance to win the VA governor's race this year. We'll see.

“And he might be right,” DPVA wrote. “Virginia Republicans are going to have millions of dollars at their disposal and will do everything they can to take back power.”

Delegate Marcus Simon Endorses Delegate Hala Ayala for Lieutenant Governor

“I am so excited to endorse my colleague Delegate Hala Ayala for Lieutenant Governor,” said Delegate Simon. “Hala has been a trusted partner in the General Assembly and we have been able to pass transformative legislation that impacts real Virginians with her help. I know she will bring her legislative expertise and principled leadership to the Lieutenant Governor's office and I hope you’ll join me in supporting her."

Spanberger Presses President Biden to Recognize Severity of DarkSide Attack against Colonial Pipeline, Hold Cyber Criminals to Account

U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D) urged President Joe Biden Wednesday to recognize the vulnerabilities revealed by the foreign-based ransomware attack that shut down the Colonial Pipeline, causing many gas stations in Central Virginia and throughout the Commonwealth to operate with limited fuel options or no fuel supply at all.

“Many gas stations across Virginia’s Seventh District and its surrounding communities are experiencing the negative effects of this cyberattack and the ensuing pipeline shutdown,” wrote Spanberger to President Biden. “This attack is having an immediate impact on Virginians who are commuting to work, dropping their children off at school, delivering supplies to small businesses and restaurants, and keeping our communities connected.”

Spanberger continued, “In addition to a full assessment of the scope of this intrusion, its implications, and any vulnerabilities that made it possible, it is essential that we improve our resilience here at home. We must ensure our critical infrastructure is protected and our supply chains are secure, and to do this, our federal government agencies must work together with state and local governments — as well as the private sector. We must also work with U.S. allies and partners around the world to disable and stand up to cyber criminals and the state and non-state actors that enable them — including the Russian government.”

Read full letter

Secure Virginia PAC launches a paid media effort they say to hold House Democrats accountable for the parole board

The ads, which will be run against eight key Democrat incumbents and will be supported by an initial five-figure investment, urge Virginians to sign a petition demanding their respective delegate call for a special session in the House to investigate the Parole Board.

The campaign, which may be expanded, will initially target the following delegates:

HD 10 - Wendy Gooditis
HD 12 - Chris Hurst
HD 21 - Kelly Convirs-Fowler
HD 28 - Josh Cole
HD 73 - Rod Willett
HD 75 - Roslyn Tyler
HD 83 - Nancy Guy
HD 85 - Alex Askew

Click HERE to view the petition

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