VA Governor's Race

 VA Governor's Race

It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year since the 2020 presidential election. And in just a few short weeks, the focus will already turn to the 2022 midterms, where President Joe Biden’s agenda will hang in the balance. History is not on the Democrats’ side next year though. In past midterm elections, the president’s party lost an average of 26 House seats and 4 Senate seats respectively. Republicans are favored to continue that trend and overcome a slim Democratic majority to take back the House. The balance of power in the Senate, however, will hinge on races in states like New Hampshire, Nevada, and Georgia. But before we worry about all that. Let’s turn our focus to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We're a week out from Election Day in the Old Dominion. Democrat and former Governor Terry McAuliffe is facing Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin in the race to become the state’s next governor. Virginia has unquestionably transformed into a reliably blue state over the last decade thanks to explosive growth in the Northern Virginia suburbs. Yet in spite of the state’s recent Democratic bent, Youngkin has run a strong campaign and both parties concede this race is extremely close. No matter what the results are next week, people will try and extrapolate what it’ll mean for next year’s midterms. It will mostly just be guesswork. However, even before we see who wins, we do know what issues are dominating the race and how those same issues could play out next year. Upon examination of what’s on voters minds, it appears national Republicans would do well to take notes on Youngkin’s campaign.

The race is largely focused on education, and this has energized Republicans

Fox News Poll: Youngkin pulls ahead of McAuliffe among Virginia likely voters

Republican Glenn Youngkin has moved ahead of Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia governor’s race, less than a week before the election. McAuliffe receives 45 percent to Youngkin’s 53 percent in a new Fox News survey of Virginia likely voters.  Youngkin’s eight-point advantage is outside the poll’s margin of sampling error. That’s a big shift from two weeks ago, when McAuliffe was ahead by five, 51-46 percent. Likely voters are a subgroup of registered voters, identified mainly based on self-reported vote intention and interest in the election. Among the larger pool of registered voters, it’s a one-point race:  McAuliffe 47 percent vs. Youngkin 48 percent.  Two weeks ago, McAuliffe led among registered voters by 11 points, 52-41 percent. What changed?  GOP enthusiasm.  The race is largely focused on education and this has energized Republicans, as 79 percent of Youngkin supporters are "extremely" interested in the election compared to 69 percent of McAuliffe supporters.

DESPERATION, DISASTER AND DIRTY TACTICS: THE CAMPAIGN OF TERRY MCAULIFFE

Dark money king Marc Elias, of Steele dossier fame, was hired by the lagging campaign of Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia in a desperate move.  As Professor Jonathan Turley wrote: McAuliffe may be preparing to challenge any win by Republican Glenn Youngkin. He has given $53,680 to the Elias Law Group. McAuliffe does not appear disturbed by Elias’ highly controversial career or his possible exposure in the Durham investigation. It is worth noting that it is not just Professor Turley that questions Dark Money Marc Elias’ ethics as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld disciplinary sanctions against Elias in another election law case.  Fox News reached out to the McAuliffe campaign for comment following a suggestion by George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who wrote that McAuliffe hiring Elias is an "astonishing move." McAuliffe spokeswoman Christina Freundlich responded to the email with a message apparently meant for colleagues, not for Fox News "Can we try to kill this," Freundlich wrote. This is not just a recounting of ethically questionable and imprudent decisions.  The Real Clear politics averages of polls show Terry McAuliffe’s challenger Glenn Youngkin with a narrow lead.  Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe has a long history of not accepting election results, even this month saying Stacey Abrams was elected Governor of Georgia.  Should Youngkin win, we hope that McAuliffe and Elias will accept the results of the election.  However, given Elias’ ethical history and McAuliffe's failure to accept election results, we are not optimistic.

Virginia governor's race now hinges on education, and one candidate has a clear edge: poll

AMHERST, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 28: Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin delivers remarks at a campaign event in the parking lot of Vito's Pizza Bar &  Grill on October 28, 2021 in Amherst, Virginia. Youngkin is on a campaign bus tour across the state of Virginia as he contests Democratic candidate and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the state election that is less than a week away on November 2.

Education is now the top issue for voters in the Virginia governor's race between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin, with the two candidates neck and neck in the final stretch according to a new poll. The latest Washington Post-Schar School poll released Friday shows education is now the number one issue with 24% of Virginia voters citing it as such, up nine points from the previous poll taken last month. The results from the survey conducted Oct. 20-26 is good news for Youngkin, who has gained the support of a majority of parents after making education the key issue in the campaign.  Virginia voters who cited education as their top priority favored McAuliffe by 33 points in September, but the latest numbers show they now favor Youngkin by nine points. (Fox News)

Prayer

It's not too late to begin praying NOW for the election in the State of Virginia next week.  As you do so, please also remember the gubernatorial race in the State of New Jersey, as well as many critical local races across the nation, all taking place next week. Below please find a prayer guide for the next four days before and during this election. (Adapted from the Nebraska Family Alliance. Published in 2016. Go here to see their original prayer guide.)   DAY 1 (Saturday, Oct. 30th): FOR VOTERS TO ELECT GODLY LEADERS “Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” Exodus 18:21 Heavenly Father, I pray that we will elect righteous leaders who love mercy and justice and will honor and obey You. We pray that elected officials will recognize that they are first accountable to God, then to the citizens they represent. Amen.   DAY 2 (Sunday, Oct. 31st): FOR VOTERS TO SEEK OUT THE TRUTH “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” Isaiah 45:19 Father God, it is sometimes difficult for us to know what is true and what is not. We struggle to discern truth from campaign slogans and political rhetoric. Fill us with Your truth during this election cycle. Grant discernment to voters and reveal hidden agendas so we can cast ballots that reflect the truth of God’s Word. Amen.   DAY 3 (Monday, November 1st): FOR HONESTY IN CAMPAIGNS “Divine Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.” Matthew 22:16 Lord God, Your glory and majesty are known to us through Your kindness. You know all hearts and discern motives in ways we cannot. Let the truth of every candidate be brought forward. Amen. DAY 4  (Tuesday, November 2nd) ELECTION DAY "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4) Father God, we pray that there will be NO FRAUD in today's vote, but that this count, when completed, will be thorough, accurate, and without question. In Your Name we pray, Jesus, amen.