Democrat Terry McAuliffe formally conceded the Virginia gubernatorial race Wednesday morning, after Republican Glenn Youngkin was predicted the winner Tuesday night.
“While last night we came up short, I am proud that we spent this campaign fighting for the values we so deeply believe in,” McAuliffe said, citing the importance of protecting Virginia’s schools and voting rights, and fighting for affordable health care coverage and raising the minimum wage.
“While there will be setbacks along the way, I am confident that the long-term path of Virginia is toward inclusion, openness and tolerance for all.”
McAuliffe congratulated Youngkin in his statement, saying, “Congratulations to Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin on his victory. I hope Virginians will join me in wishing the best to him and his family.”
The former governor of Virginia thanked his wife, family, and campaign for all their support and dedication throughout the election.
“Serving as Virginia’s 72nd governor was the highest honor of my life, and I will never stop fighting to make our Commonwealth stronger and brighter for all,” he said.
Youngkin was declared the winner by several networks Tuesday night with 99 percent of the expected votes tallied Tuesday night.
The Republican carried 50.7 percent of the vote compared to 48.6 percent for McAuliffe, a margin of approximately 67,000 votes out of the nearly 3.3 million ballots cast.
Youngkin’s win was celebrated by Republicans hours before it was officially called with the Republican National Committee saying: “The red wave is here!”
“This Republican sweep in Virginia is a resounding rebuke of the failed policies of Joe Biden and the Democrats,” the RNC said in a statement. “Virginians — and Americans across the country — are fed up with Biden’s divisive policies, failed leadership, and a Democrat agenda hurting working families. A Republican wave is coming in 2022, and Virginia is just the start.”
In a victory speech, shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, Youngkin called his win a “defining moment” and promised to “change the trajectory of this commonwealth.”
“On day one, we’re going to work,” the Republican promised. “We’re going to restore excellence in our schools … We’re going to embrace our parents, not ignore them.”
Tuesday’s election was largely dominated by growing tensions between parents and school boards — particularly in Loudoun County.
Youngkin consistently expressed support for parents to voice their concerns over specific curriculum being taught throughout his campaign, while McAuliffe took the opposite approach.
“I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” he said during a September debate.
Education was the second most important issue for vtiers in the lead up to the election, just behind the economy, according to polls.
Top politicians in both parties — including Vice President Kamala Harris — saw Virginia’s gubernatorial election as incredibly important, with lasting impacts that could affect elections in 2022 and 2024.
The Commonwealth of Virginia also saw Republican leads in two other statewide offices.
Former Virginia House of Delegates member Winsome Sears is poised to become Virginia’s lieutenant governor — and the first black woman elected to statewide office in the commonwealth.
Jason Miyares is also set to become the first Hispanic person to hold statewide office as the next attorney general.
