{"id":950247,"date":"2021-11-01T15:15:19","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T19:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=950247"},"modified":"2021-11-01T15:15:23","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T19:15:23","slug":"the-biggest-race-of-the-year-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-virginia-gubernatorial-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-biggest-race-of-the-year-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-virginia-gubernatorial-election\/","title":{"rendered":"The Biggest Race Of The Year: Everything You Need To Know About The Virginia Gubernatorial Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-biggest-race-of-the-year-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-virginia-gubernatorial-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=950247&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>With November upon us, the eyes of the nation have turned to Virginia, where a contentious gubernatorial campaign between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin will finally be settled.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The race, widely considered a referendum on the performance of President Biden one year into his first term, was considered a sure-fire victory for Democrats just months ago. But a late surge by Youngkin has polls showing a dead heat in the days before final votes are cast.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s everything you need to know about this year\u2019s most important statewide election.<\/p>\n<p>Who Is Glenn Youngkin?<\/p>\n<p>Youngkin has never run for public office, spending his last 25 years working in accounting and finance after receiving his MBA from Harvard University. Most notably, Youngkin served as President and COO of The Carlyle Group, a prominent private equity firm in Washington.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After defeating a crowded primary field for the Republican nomination, Youngkin received the endorsement of former President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and a slew of other Republican leaders. Though he has not publicly campaigned with Mr. Trump, Youngkin has said the former President \u201crepresents so much of why I\u2019m running.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Who Is Terry McAuliffe?<\/p>\n<p>McAuliffe is the former governor of Virginia and a longtime Democratic Party operative. He served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton\u2019s 1996 re-election campaign, and more recently as chairman of Hillary Clinton\u2019s 2008 presidential campaign. From 2001 to 2005, McAuliffe served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.<\/p>\n<p>In 2014, McAuliffe secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Virginia after running unopposed. He then defeated Republican Ken Cuccinelli, and served as Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. More recently, McAuliffe was employed by Hunton Andrews Kurth, a controversial law firm that\u2019s come <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/exclusive-mcauliffe-linked-law-firm-fighting-virginia-student-who-said-she-was-gang-raped\">under fire<\/a> for fighting on behalf of public school districts against alleged victims of sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia Going Red?<\/p>\n<p>Throughout 2021, most national media outlets wrote off the Virginia gubernatorial race as an easy win for Democrats. Given the commonwealth\u2019s recent electoral history, it\u2019s easy to see why.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Virginia hasn\u2019t gone Red in a presidential election since 2004, and hasn\u2019t elected a Republican Governor since 2009.<\/p>\n<p><em>Virginia Presidential Election Results<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2020: 54.1% Biden \u2014 44.0% Trump<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2016: 49.7% Clinton \u2014 44.4% Trump<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2012: 51.2% Obama \u2014 47.3% Romney<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2008: 52.6% Obama \u2014 46.3% McCain<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2004: 45.5% Kerry \u2014 53.7% Bush<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Latest Polls<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2021, polling consistently showed Terry McAuliffe with a sizable lead over Youngkin. From July to September, every single poll listed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With November upon us, the eyes of the nation have turned to Virginia, where a contentious gubernatorial campaign between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin will finally be settled.\u00a0The race, widely considered a referendum on the performance of President Biden one year into his first term, was considered a sure-fire victory for Democrats just months ago. But a late surge by Youngkin has polls showing a dead heat in the days before final votes are cast.\u00a0Here\u2019s everything you need to know about this year\u2019s most important statewide election.Who Is Glenn Youngkin?Youngkin has never run for public office, spending his last 25 years working in accounting and finance after receiving his MBA from Harvard University. Most notably, Youngkin served as President and COO of The Carlyle Group, a prominent private equity firm in Washington.\u00a0After defeating a crowded primary field for the Republican nomination, Youngkin received the endorsement of former President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and a slew of other Republican leaders. Though he has not publicly campaigned with Mr. Trump, Youngkin has said the former President \u201crepresents so much of why I\u2019m running.\u201dWho Is Terry McAuliffe?McAuliffe is the former governor of Virginia and a longtime Democratic Party operative. He served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton\u2019s 1996 re-election campaign, and more recently as chairman of Hillary Clinton\u2019s 2008 presidential campaign. From 2001 to 2005, McAuliffe served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.In 2014, McAuliffe secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Virginia after running unopposed. He then defeated Republican Ken Cuccinelli, and served as Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. More recently, McAuliffe was employed by Hunton Andrews Kurth, a controversial law firm that\u2019s come under fire for fighting on behalf of public school districts against alleged victims of sexual assault.Virginia Going Red?Throughout 2021, most national media outlets wrote off the Virginia gubernatorial race as an easy win for Democrats. Given the commonwealth\u2019s recent electoral history, it\u2019s easy to see why.\u00a0Virginia hasn\u2019t gone Red in a presidential election since 2004, and hasn\u2019t elected a Republican Governor since 2009.Virginia Presidential Election Results2020: 54.1% Biden \u2014 44.0% Trump2016: 49.7% Clinton \u2014 44.4% Trump2012: 51.2% Obama \u2014 47.3% Romney2008: 52.6% Obama \u2014 46.3% McCain2004: 45.5% Kerry \u2014 53.7% BushThe Latest PollsThroughout the Spring and Summer of 2021, polling consistently showed Terry McAuliffe with a sizable lead over Youngkin. From July to September, every single poll listed in Real Clear Politics\u2019 election database showed McAuliffe ahead, usually by 4 to 8 points.\u00a0For much of the campaign, McAuliffe \u2014 thanks in large part to his previous role as Virginia\u2019s governor \u2014 enjoyed widespread name recognition and a fundraising advantage over his relatively unknown counterpart.\u00a0But as summer came to a close, Youngkin began to gain steam and by October was in a statistical tie with McAuliffe in numerous polls. Three polls conducted a week before election day showed Youngkin with a lead.\u00a0Trafalgar Group: Youngkin 49, McAuliffe 47Fox 5 DC\/Insider Advantage: Youngkin 47, McAuliffe 45Fox News: Youngkin 53, McAuliffe 45Leading IssuesThe shift in momentum from McAuliffe to Youngkin began in September, and appears to have corresponded with a renewed focus on education and COVID lockdowns among the electorate. In one Washington Post-Schar School poll, 24% of Virginians said education was their number one priority, up nine points from the same poll a month earlier.\u00a0Among those who listed education as their top priority, Youngkin held a nine point advantage. In September, it was McAuliffe who held a 33 point lead amongst those voters.While Youngkin has vowed to \u201cnot allow COVID lockdowns to ever occur in Virginia again,\u201d and loosen mask requirements in schools, McAuliffe has supported mask requirements for students and promised to \u201curge all school divisions to require vaccines for their personnel,\u201d if elected.A turning point in the race came in late September, when McAuliffe \u2014 responding to a question about whether parents should be notified if their children are reading sexually explicit content \u2014 said \u201cI don\u2019t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.\u201d\u00a0He went on to add, \u201cI\u2019m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision.\u201d\u00a0The comments stood in stark contrast to Youngkin, who has promised to ban Critical Race Theory in classrooms and allow parents increased access to school curricula.The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-950247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=950247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=950247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=950247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=950247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}