Gov. Glenn Youngkin is testing the waters for a 2024 presidential run, taking it upon himself to ensure that the GOP wins in Virginia congressional races to bolster Republican majorities in Washington for the next two years.
Youngkin has been active on the campaign trail, stumping for several GOP candidates who are challenging Democratic incumbents struggling with President Joe Biden’s low approval rates in the state. During these stops, Youngkin has hammered home on issues such as inflation and crime — two top concerns that have swayed voters toward GOP candidates over the last few months.
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“[Biden] let the inflation genie out of the bottle,” Youngkin said during a rally for GOP House candidate Karina Lipsman. “We have runaway crime in our neighborhoods and [Democrats] demean and demoralize the police.”
Youngkin has emerged as a key asset for Republicans on the campaign trail in 2022 after his win over Democrat Terry McAuliffe in 2021, flipping the governor’s mansion in Virginia red for the first time since 2014. As a result, the Virginia Republican has traveled to campaign alongside GOP candidates in Arizona, New York, South Dakota, and Oregon.
There are a handful of key House races in Virginia that the Republicans have been eyeing as prime pickup opportunities to gain control of the House on Tuesday.
One of Virginia’s most vulnerable Democrats is Rep. Abigail Spanberger, whose previously blue district was shifted in the state’s most recent redistricting, causing the race to be deemed a “toss-up” early on in the cycle. Polling in the race shows a dead heat, with both candidates having a 50% chance of winning, according to election forecaster FiveThirtyEight.
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Also facing a tough reelection challenge is Rep. Elaine Luria, who became a high-profile target among Republicans in the state for her work on the Jan. 6 committee earlier this year — attracting a crowded field of GOP candidates vying to unseat the Democrat. Polling also shows a dead heat in that one, with each candidate garnering 50% of the vote, according to a recent survey from Christopher Newport University.
Youngkin has not yet indicated whether he has plans to launch a White House bid in 2024. However, the governor has emerged as a rising star among the GOP, attracting support from both conservative and centrist Republican voters.
