Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, greets visitors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 18, 2021. His inauguration is Saturday.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, greets visitors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 18, 2021. His inauguration is Saturday.
Al Drago / Getty Images
Entrepreneur Glenn Youngkin is expected to be sworn in as Virginia’s 74th governor on Saturday in Richmond, restoring Republicans to a post they haven’t held in nearly a decade.
The two Republicans who made history will also be sworn in. Former state delegate Jason Miyares will be sworn in as attorney general, the first Latino elected to statewide office. And former state delegate Winsome Sears will be sworn in as governor, the first black woman to hold that title.
Youngkin’s victory in November shocked Democrats who – after President Biden’s 10-point lead in the state – hoped former Governor Terry McAuliffe would be able to return to the presidential mansion. Governor and continued the party’s hold on an office currently held by the outgoing Governor of Northam. But Youngkin’s campaign won over voters in rural Virginia and infiltrated the state’s suburbs. The former private equity executive considers his lack of political experience an asset.
In addition to gaining control of all three offices across the state, Republicans also hold a 52-48 majority in the House after flipping seven seats in the 100-member chamber. In their short majority, Democrats raised the minimum wage, abolished the death penalty, expanded access to voting, and legalized marijuana. Republicans are hoping to work with the new governor to restore some of the more progressive elements of those new laws. But they will have to interfere or compromise with Democrats in the state Senate, where Democrats retain a 21-19 advantage, with wider margins on key committees.
On the campaign trail, Youngkin often talked about his “agenda for the day”: adding charter schools, increasing teacher salaries, cutting business regulations, removing Virginia from pledges on climate change, fired the state’s troubled pardon board and passed a series of tax cuts. Most of those policies will require legislative signatures, but Youngkin said he plans to address some COVID-19-related policies in executive orders. That includes Cancellation of orders from Northam mask requirements in public schools. Youngkin could also face an unexpected test on his first day in office when a potentially massive snowstorm hits Virginia on Sunday.
Virginia Republican-elected Governor Glenn Youngkin, Republican-elected Lieutenant General Winsome Sears and Republican Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares pray on the campaign trail during a worship service at Highlands Church Fellowship on October 31, 2021 in Abingdon, Va.
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Virginia Republican-elected Governor Glenn Youngkin, Republican-elected Lieutenant General Winsome Sears and Republican Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares pray on the campaign trail during a worship service at Highlands Church Fellowship on October 31, 2021 in Abingdon, Va.
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images
Youngkin will also face an issue he hasn’t talked about on the campaign trail. That is, find out how Virginia’s new cannabis industry will work. Democrats have legalized marijuana in small quantities, but retail has yet to be established.
Youngkin’s cabinet includes a mix of political newcomers as well as veterans of the federal and state governments, including staffers who served under former President Donald Trump. That includes Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist and Trump Environmental Protection Agency administrator who has opposed protections that former President Barack Obama passed.
Wheeler’s nomination caused an immediate outcry among Senate Democrats in Virginia, who were hoping to block his nomination. Wheeler’s battle for the nomination could be an early test of Youngkin’s ability to work his way through delicate political situations. Youngkin has so far ignored those objections, calling Wheeler “extremely qualified” in a Interview with VPM member station on Tuesday.
Northam, outgoing Democrat, said he is unlikely to run for re-election. He faced widespread calls to resign in February 2019 after reporters discovered a racist photo on his medical school yearbook page. Northam ultimately denied being in the pictures, rejected those calls and went on to sign sweeping policy changes pushed by a Democratic majority. The pediatric neurologist will continue seeing patients on Monday.
Ben Pavour state political coverage for VPM member stations; Michael Pope worked as a reporter for Virginia Public Radio.
