Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said the key to victory today for Republicans in the general election is voter turnout.
Youngkin, during a Tuesday morning appearance on The John Fredericks Show, focused heavily on voter turnout in the general election, citing his own 2021 win when he overcame a Democratic early voting lead through strong Election Day turnout.
He noted that roughly 500,000 Virginians who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 had not yet voted, and urged supporters to get to the polls and bring friends, family, and coworkers along.
“We need to get everybody out to vote…If you have voted, go get some friends and tell them to go vote. Who you work with, who you walk with, who you worship with. Get them out to vote,” Youngkin stressed.
The governor went on to defend his administration’s record over the past four years, touting Virginia’s transformation under his, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and overall Republican leadership.
“Over the past four years, Jason [Miyares], Winsome, and I have taken Virginia from the bottom of so many rankings – from jobs, economic development to our kids learning loss during the pandemic to crime to how we treat behavioral health – to the front of the pack and it’s translated into Virginia leading on so many fronts on jobs and economic development, on people coming to Virginia as opposed to moving away, Youngkin said.
“That’s translated to a $10 billion revenue surplus over the last four years, $9 billion of tax relief, and a recognition that government works for Virginians as opposed to telling them what to do all the time,” he added.
Youngkin also pointed to his administration’s commitment to parental rights and improved standards in Virginia schools, increased funding for law enforcement, expanded behavioral health programs, and efforts to reduce government red tape.
All of his, he noted, would be “taken away” if Democrat Abigail Spanberger and her ticketmates were to win.
“They’re going to get rid of Right to Work and our deregulation efforts. They’re going to put parents back in the other room in their kids’ education and lives. And on top of that, they’re demeaning and demoralizing law enforcement…They’ll do anything for power. They’ll do anything to keep control, and that’s why Virginians must stand up for what’s right,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin went on to dismiss national media polls that showed Spanberger leading Earle-Sears by double digits, claiming such polls were designed to discourage Republican voters.
He framed the election as a battle between the “common sense” conservatism of red states and the “failing policies” of blue states, saying the media refused to acknowledge that conservative governance produces better results.
“National media cannot get their heads around the fact that common sense conservative policies work and they work to such an extent that blue states are failing and red states are winning. It’s that simple,” Youngkin said.
“The media doesn’t want to acknowledge any of that because it doesn’t fit their left narrative. That’s why Virginians need to show that we can lead as opposed to follow,” the governor added.
Youngkin concluded with an impassioned call to action, urging voters to support Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, Jason Miyares for attorney general, and John Reid for lieutenant governor, as well as local Republican candidates.
“We’ve been working hard for Virginians, and we’ve been undeterred in our commitment to make Virginia the very best state in America. It’s our turn to stand up and protect what we’ve not only achieved, but to give Winsome, Jason, and John a platform so that they can take her even further,” Youngkin said.
“Get out and vote. Get your friends to get out and vote. Let’s get this thing done today, Virginia. We can do it,” he added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Cov. Glenn Youngkin” by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
