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RICHMOND, VA – The race for governor in Virginia is tightening — at least, that is what most of the recent polls are saying.
A poll released by the University of Mary Washington showed a lead for Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe among all voters, but the Republican nominee had a lead among likely voters, an important distinction.
Youngkin, a political newcomer that has been working to not alienate both the base and the moderates in his party, seems to be feeling some momentum.
“We are winning!” said Macaulay Porter, a spokeswoman for Youngkin. “There’s little enthusiasm among Virginians for a 40-year politician that failed to deliver during his first chance as governor, and multiple polls are showing that Glenn Youngkin has tremendous support across the ideological spectrum and is beginning to pull away in this race. Known liar Terry McAuliffe will say anything to distract from his failed record, but Virginia wants a change, and that change is political outsider and proven business leader Glenn Youngkin.”
While likely voters said they prefer Youngkin, McAuliffe still leads by five points among registered voters.
He has to put enthusiasm behind those voters that know him and prefer him to ensure that they head the polls between now and November since early voting has already started.
Recently, abortion access, vaccine mandates, and Donald Trump have been the Democratic ticket’s main motivators to rally the base.
“Virginia has a decades-long history of electing a governor from the opposite party that won the White House the year before, and Terry is the only candidate to defy those odds in nearly 40 years when he won in 2013,” said Renzo Olivari, a spokesperson for McAuliffe. “As he did before, Terry is running a 24/7 campaign laser-focused on the issues Virginians care most about – defeating COVID, creating good jobs, making health care more affordable, and giving every child a world-class education. Meanwhile, Glenn Youngkin is running a hyper-partisan campaign predicated on his three-time endorsement from Donald Trump, and his own stated priorities: banning abortion and policies based on election conspiracy theories. Virginians should make no mistake: the future of our commonwealth is on the ballot this fall and Terry will win when Virginians show up to vote early this fall.”
Olivari is right about Virginia historically electing a governor who is opposite of the party in the White House. While McAuliffe did defy that trend in 2013, he was facing a far-right candidate in Ken Cuccinelli who hopped ahead of two-term Republican lieutenant governor Bill Bolling to get the gubernatorial nomination.
“To borrow from Mark Twain, the reports of the end of Virginia’s status as a swing state are greatly exaggerated,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
With less than six weeks left to drive voters to the polls, both candidates are locked in a tight race to be the next governor of Virginia.
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