
All eyes are on close Virginia governor election as final votes are cast
CNN
Democrat Terry McAuliffe seeks another term as Virginia's governor, but the mood of voters has soured a year after President Joe Biden was elected and Republican Glenn Youngkin hopes to pull off an upset as he targets the state's suburban voters.
For months, McAuliffe has tried to energize Democratic voters by painting his opponent, Republican Glenn Youngkin, as a Donald Trump "wannabee," who would reverse progressive gains in a state that the former President lost by 10 points last year. Youngkin has accepted Trump's endorsement but skillfully kept his distance while centering his campaign on local issues like education and trying to portray himself as an advocate for parents.
In the final days on the campaign trail, McAuliffe referred to Youngkin as "Glenn Trumpkin" and argued that a Youngkin win in Virginia would embolden Trump ahead of possible 2024 White House bid. Youngkin has tapped into some of Trump's rhetoric to appeal to the GOP base -- talking about "election integrity" early in the race, for example -- but steered clear of the telerally that Trump held Monday night for the Republican ticket.