Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday launched a national school-choice campaign, leaning into education issues ahead of a possible 2028 presidential bid.
Youngkin finished out his term as Virginia’s Republican governor in January, but has since suggested he could run for office again, saying in April that he has “more to give.”
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As other likely 2028 presidential rivals, such as Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), tour the country and gain name recognition, Youngkin founded a national policy group this week that will first focus on promoting a new school choice program called Empowering America’s Parents.
Empowering America’s Parents will begin a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz targeting several battleground states, including Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to NBC News. The campaign is targeting states led by Democratic governors that have yet to adopt the education freedom tax credit, a federal initiative that passed into law last year as part of President Donald Trump’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Youngkin said 30 states have adopted the tax credit, which aims to expand school choices for K-12 students, but 20 have declined to participate.
“Empowering America’s Parents will recognize the strong leaders who embraced this program and aggressively call out far-left governors who won’t stand with parents and are instead playing politics,” Youngkin said in a statement announcing the new school choice push, which was swiftly celebrated by allies such as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR).
Nine out of 10 students are eligible for the tax credit designed to help them obtain scholarships for tuition, tutoring, and disability services, according to Youngkin’s team. The governor is leading a pressure campaign to push reluctant governors across the country to opt in to the policy. On Wednesday, the Trump administration also emphasized the tax credits, with the Department of Education saying over 50 million children “have access to life-changing scholarships. ”
Such initiatives have long drawn criticism from Democrats and powerful teacher unions over accusations that they divert resources from public schools.
“These tax credits unlock school choice on a virtually universal basis, let’s stand with families, and stand against politics,” Youngkin said.
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Should he choose to run in 2028, the former Virginia governor is set to face a crowded field of candidates. On the Democratic side, Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), and Govs. Josh Shapiro (PA), Wes Moore (MD), and Andy Beshear (KY) are among those viewed as possible contenders.
On the Republican side, Youngkin could face rivals for the nomination ranging from Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Govs. Ron DeSantis (FL) and Brian Kemp (GA).
