#Virginia governor issues ad wars full

#Virginia governor issues ad wars full

The election could hinge on whether voters approve of the way Democrats have managed Virginia.ĭemocrats took full control of state government in the 2019 elections, following huge gains in 2017. “I can’t think of anybody who doesn’t want to be seen on stage with Glenn Youngkin,” he said. Garren Shipley, a longtime GOP operative and the spokesman for the House GOP caucus, said other Republicans on the ballot this year are eager to campaign with Youngkin, something he said hasn’t always been the case for moderates in swing districts. Senate and was handily defeated by Democrat Tim Kaine. The following year, Corey Stewart, an immigration hard-liner who defended “Confederate heritage,” won the GOP nomination for U.S.

He lost to Democrat Ralph Northam by nearly nine percentage points. In 2017, Ed Gillespie ran for governor as an establishment candidate before taking a hard turn on immigration policy and the status of Confederate statues. In some ways, his messaging marks a shift from other Republicans who have sought statewide office in recent years. He did, however, make “election integrity” a key part of his platform during the nominating contest, and has vowed to ban the teaching of critical race theory, which explores the history of America through the lens of racism. He has said little, for instance, about gun control or the recent removal of a statue of Gen. More substantively, he has spent much of this year trying to steer clear of some contentious culture war issues that Republicans in other parts of the country have embraced. Tall and polished, the former investment executive has cast himself as a down-to-earth family man. “The only guys that win are the guys that embrace the MAGA movement,” Trump said Thursday on the John Fredericks Radio Show when discussing Youngkin’s candidacy.īut Republicans in Virginia are feeling good about Youngkin in part because they think he is the type of candidate who can prevail. Trump may have done Youngkin few favors this week by pushing him to back his agenda. And Democrats are doing everything they can to tie Youngkin to former President Donald Trump, who is unpopular in large swaths of northern Virginia where the race may be decided. Supreme Court considers the future of abortion rights, Democrats say Youngkin is too extreme on the issue. In order to prevail, Youngkin will have to overcome several vulnerabilities in this increasingly moderate state.

A poll conducted this month by The Washington Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University showed McAuliffe with 50% support among likely voters to Youngkin’s 47%, within the margin of error. McAuliffe, who was in office from 2014 to 2018 and who ran away with the Democratic primary in June, has generally led in public polling, but recent surveys suggest the race may have tightened. “Republicans have a motivation advantage, an enthusiasm advantage.” “This election appears to be closer than we would prefer,” said Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, an influential group that spends heavily to support Democrats almost exclusively and has endorsed McAuliffe. And while Democrats are confident that they will still come out on top, some of McAuliffe’s supporters are nervous. That type of strong showing, combined with some new polling, is fueling optimism among Republicans, who have been largely shut out of state government in recent years, as one of this year’s most competitive and expensive political matchups enters its final six-week stretch. “I am seeing more enthusiasm than I’ve seen for a statewide Republican candidate since I can remember,” said Stuart, who’s represented his district since 2008.