Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) has said he is not running for president — at least not this year.
The Virginia governor has long been floated as someone who may launch a 2024 presidential campaign after his upset win in the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race.
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He appeared to dispel the rumors on Monday, telling the Wall Street Journal at the “Governing America” conversation with the Milken Institute that he would be focusing on Virginia for now.
“Are you going to be dusting off that fleece jacket and getting out on the presidential campaign trail later this year?” Gerard Baker, Wall Street Journal editor at large, asked Youngkin.
“No,” the governor replied. “I’m going to be working in Virginia this year.”
“And so our House and Senate are up for full reelection this year. We have a House that’s controlled by Republicans and a Senate that’s controlled by Democrats,” he continued. “I want to hold our House, and I’d like to flip our Senate. And I think we’re doing a really good job in Virginia, and I think this is a chance to bring that to voters.”
However, a Youngkin aide pointed out to the Washington Examiner that Baker was specifically asking about the governor’s plans for 2023, and he was answering the question with that in mind.
Youngkin also didn’t give a clear answer as to any presidential ambitions when pressed by Baker.
“So in the words of LBJ, you will not seek and, if nominated, you will not serve and accept the Republican nomination for president of the United States?” Baker asked.
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“We’ll leave that one to LBJ,” Youngkin replied after a laugh.
“What I am very excited about is that America seems to be paying attention to what’s going on in Virginia,” he continued, going on to lay out his conservative approach to Virginia.
