Virginia Republicans in a tight governor’s race have been staging “Parents Matter” rallies and tapping into conservative anger over mandates and critical race theory.
Supporters take home campaign signs for Glenn Youngkin, a Republican running for governor, at a campaign event in Winchester, Va., Oct. 6, 2021.
From fights over evolution to desegregation to prayer, education battles have been a staple of the country’s culture wars for decades. But not quite like this. “There’s just so much focus on the schools, and it’s visceral,” said John Whitbeck, a former chair of the Republican Party of Virginia from Loudoun County, where acrimonious school board meetings have led to arrests, death threats and constant airtime on conservative media. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m against the debt ceiling.’ This is like, ‘You’re destroying our children’s education.’ And, look, angry people vote.
Frustration with education is an issue that unites Republicans, energizing moderates eager to ensure their children remain in school as well as conservatives who see a liberal plot to indoctrinate their children with the belief that white people are inherently racist. McAuliffe shot back that he did not believe “parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” In the weeks since, he has stood by those remarks, saying that the state Board of Education and local school boards should determine what is taught in the classroom.
At a campaign rally last week in Winchester, a small town in the Shenandoah Valley in one of the fast-growing exurb counties around Washington, Youngkin made little mention of Trump, vaccines or the coronavirus. Instead, he repeatedly invoked issues around schools as top priorities.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Youngkin emphasizes protecting parental power over schools in Virginia governor's raceRepublican nominee Glenn Youngkin is framing his candidacy for governor of Virginia as part of a national “movement” that transcends partisanship, in which parents push back against overbearing schools and government officials.
Read more »
Trump wants Virginia governor's race to be 'launching pad' for 2024, Terry McAuliffe says'If I were not to win this, this would be, as I say, the comeback of Donald Trump,' the Virginia Democrat said Tuesday.
Read more »
Obama to campaign with McAuliffe in Virginia governor's raceRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will campaign with fellow Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the final stretch of the Virginia governor's race. “The stakes could not be greater,” McAuliffe said, as he announced the news Tuesday morning on MSNBC.
Read more »
Virginia’s GOP nominee for governor stokes fury over school curriculumVirginia’s GOP nominee for governor is trying to harness rage over school curricula in order to win. _jahan writes on Glenn Youngkin for TheReidOut blog.
Read more »
Virginia Governor PollsWho’s ahead in the Virginia governor’s race? FiveThirtyEight is tracking it:
Read more »
Republican candidate for Virginia governor walks fine line on election fraudAt a recent Virginia rally, Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin talked up his plans to boost the economy and fight crime, and said nothing at all about false claims that Democratic President Joe Biden's election victory was the result of fraud.
Read more »