Youngkin elected governor, despite big loss in Fairfax County
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, Youngkin got 50.68 percent of the vote statewide, compared to 48.55 percent for McAuliffe. The third-party candidate, Princess Blanding, got 0.69 percent.While Virginia elected Republicans for statewide office, Fairfax County voters went strongly for the Democrats.
Youngkin, a resident of Great Falls, is the former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm based in Washington, DC. His appeal to Trump supporters by focusing on “election integrity” – while declining to campaign with Trump – has paid off, portending a big challenge for Democrats in the mid-term elections next year.
This was the first time a Republican won statewide office in Virginia since 2009.
Winsome Sears, the Republican candidate, won the race for lieutenant governor with 50.84 percent of the vote. Democratic candidate Hala Ayala got 49.05 percent. Sears, a former member of the House of Delegates, will be the first female and woman of color elected to statewide office in Virginia.
In the attorney general race, Republican Jason Miyares, beat Democratic incumbent Mark Herring, 50.49 percent vs. 49.43 percent. Miyares, the son of a Cuban exile, represents Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates.
In Fairfax County, McAuliffe got 64.59 percent of the vote, Ayala got 65.09 percent, and Herring got 65.43 percent. The Democratic candidates won big in all the precincts in Mason District.
The $360 million public school bond in Fairfax County passed with 67.82 yes votes. That clears the way for renovations at Falls Church High School and planning and design work at Bren Mar Park Elementary School.
All three Democratic members of the House of Delegates who represent parts of the Mason District/Annandale area were re-elected, including Kaye Kory (68.55 percent), Vivian Watts (66.46 percent), and Alfonzo Lopez (76.45 percent).
These results are unofficial, as absentee ballots can be accepted until noon on Nov. 6. The results will be certified on Nov. 15.
Many Parents Dem or Rep are pissed at how school boards are pushing far leftist agendas such as critical race theory, mixing male/female bathrooms which resulted in two females getting raped, promoting sexual materials, etc. That is why Youngkin won.
Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for yesterday and what will likely happen in 2022.
With that being said, your reasons why are just recycled garbage that you are fed from Fox news. FoxNews and Conservative politicians love their base because they can manufacture crises that rile up folks and don't have to show any proof it exists (Ex. CRT and Stop the Steal). Those same folks supposedly hate "cancel culture" yet want to outlaw some books because (gasp) they have some sexual situations in them. Stop being such a snowflake (remember that term?) and trying to hide your kids from things. The more you do so, the more they will rebel in later years and be socially unprepared for life. I'm sure the same folks also allow their kids to play violent video games, watch any movie they want, and don't have any clue what they are looking at on the internet but if we prevent a few books from being read, we have won! What an absolute joke…..
That Right Wing media fear factory sure did a number on you lol
I agree that in general Youngkin was able to tap into parent anger, I disagree with a lot of your specific reasons for parent anger. You essentially just regurgitated far right talking points – most of which I don't think truly found a home with many. Most of that battleground was in Loudon County, and McAuliffe still handily won there.
However, he DID tap very potent parental anger that stems from local school boards' handling of COVID and the clear apparent favoritism they played in listening to special interests and unions over parent concerns, to also the DoE's announced changes to advanced academics curriculum that was at best not been communicated very well and had outward appearance of "dumbing down" the curriculum. The fact that the polls showed that parents with kids under 18 showed Younkin favored to handle education policy better than McAuliffe should be an alarm bell for Dems.
Parental anger was probably what flipped some votes in the middle. From there, Youngkin did a good job of energizing his base and not playing into McAulliffe's narrative, but rather taking control of the narrative. McAuliffe in the meantime suffered from an absolutely catastrophic campaign. His only trick was attacking Youngkin. He failed to remind people of the good years we had under his leadership. As senator Kaine noted, congressional dems also collectively failed him by not coming together and moving along any of Biden's agenda. I agree with Kaine that that zapped dem enthusiasm.
James Carville has an interesting perspective on why Dems lost big on Tuesday (not just in Virginia) https://thehill.com/homenews/media/579991-carville-blames-stupid-wokeness-for-democratic-losses
"His appeal to Trump supporters by focusing on 'election integrity' – while declining to campaign with Trump – has paid off."
How much evidence do institutions have that this is the "reason" people voted for Youngkin. I for one, voted for him because of tax reduction measures and increasing charter school options (not any of the "reasons" WaPo, NYT have come up with).
-Nick C.
Folks try to make educated guesses by looking at exit polls and shifts in polling from previous elections.
Obviously, not all statements describe the sentiment of every voter. For instance, I'd classify myself as an "angry parent" for what our school board has done to my kids, and "angry parents" in general as a bloc appear to have voted for Youngkin, but I personally still voted for Terry because I can still remember what happened on Jan 6th and I will not trust anyone in the current GOP except those that very explicitly condemn Trumpism.
Angry parents remembered this:
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/teen-accused-of-sexual-assaults-in-2-virginia-high-schools/2831314/
McAuliffe ran a terrible campaign. He should have pointed out his excellent record as governor of Virginia, the booming state economy on his watch, that while he has results to show, Youngkin has nothing but phony promises. Phony promises like ending the state income tax, which would plunge Virginia into economic disaster. McAuliffe should have also pointed out that one of Youngkin's advisors is the person who advised Sam Brownback to cut taxes in Kansas, the result of which was like the Titanic's maiden voyage. Even Republicans in Kansas were glad to see Brownback go. And he should have pointed out that experience counts in political leadership, that being a rich business person who is just now, in middle age, dabbling in politics, is no qualification at all for being governor. McAuliffe should have bluntly confronted Youngkin's nonsense ideas about covid, which will result in Virginians dying needlessly. Finally, he should have hammered Youngkin for his Mr. Rogers con man act by pointing out that a vote for Youngkin is a vote for Trump, the big lie, and the attack on the Capitol.
In addition, northern Virginians should be ashamed of themselves for not turning out on election day. Had they done so, the three statewide offices would still be in Democratic hands. Now, once again, we'll be the ones funding the state while the red part of Virginia continues to composed of the same moochers they've been for decades.
"… being a rich business person who is just now, in middle age, dabbling in politics, is no qualification at all for being governor."
Mark Warner might disagree.
I love that Winsome Sears won! She is amazing.
Yes, a very strong early candidate for 2025.
Congratulations to Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears and Jason Miyares. Wishing our new leaders much success.
Irregardless of the fulminations of all the bitter liberals on here, I predict the Youngkin administration will be one of the best Virginia has ever seen. It's time to reduce dependence on the Federal government and the mistaken belief that government can solve all problems. Get off you collective tushes, and start relying on personal inspiration, ingenuity, and hard work!!!