Once a shiny object among the GOP who offered a fresh look at how the party could win elections without the influence of former President Donald Trump, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) has since become just one of several contenders in the crowded field of possible 2024 presidential nominees.
As Youngkin contemplates a possible presidential bid for the 2024 cycle, he must grapple with a handful of losses he suffered as his chosen midterm candidates lost their respective races. Youngkin quickly rose to fame after he became the first Republican to win Virginia’s governorship in more than a decade, but now he must look beyond that if he wants to compete with other presidential prospects.
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“Youngkin’s only campaign talking point right now is, ‘I won Virginia,’” Iowa Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats told the Associated Press. “He’s going to need something more than that.”
The GOP presidential primary field is already beginning to take shape, with Trump announcing his third White House bid and a handful of other Republicans teasing their announcements are not far off. That field is expected to include GOP powerhouses such as Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former Vice President Mike Pence who are well liked among the party and would benefit from their national name recognition.
Meanwhile, Youngkin would have to play catch-up in order to garner the same kind of prominence, prompting some Republican strategists to view him as a nonthreat.
“He’s not a serious candidate in 2024,” said John Fredericks, a right-wing radio host who previously led Trump’s campaign in Virginia, according to the Associated Press. “[He’s] a poor man’s DeSantis.”
However, several allies within Youngkin’s inner circle are reportedly encouraging the Republican governor to seek higher office, seeing no drawbacks because he can’t run for a second consecutive term under state law.
Youngkin also stands to benefit from the fact that he offers a more centrist demeanor, attracting voters from not only the Right but also those who trend toward the center. He was able to capture the governorship in Virginia, a state President Joe Biden won by 10 percentage points, by campaigning on parental choice in education, public safety, and the economy.
However, his midterm endorsement record was far worse than expected — with only five of his 15 candidates for whom he publicly campaigned winning their races.
Youngkin has also drawn the ire of Trump, who has been quick to attack the governor while also taking credit for his political success. Trump endorsed Youngkin in his gubernatorial bid in 2021, though Youngkin kept his distance from the former president during that campaign cycle.
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“Young Kin (now that’s an interesting take. Sounds Chinese, doesn’t it?) in Virginia couldn’t have won without me,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Nov. 11. “I Endorsed him, did a very big Trump Rally for him telephonically, got MAGA to Vote for him — or he couldn’t have come close to winning. But he knows that, and admits it. Besides, having a hard time with the Dems in Virginia — But he’ll get it done!”
Youngkin has not indicated whether he plans to launch a presidential bid in 2024, and the Virginia governor has routinely downplayed speculation in public.
