(Ben Sellers, Headline USA) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin offered reflections about his enduring legacy while on the campaign trail with now defeated Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle–Sears.
“I’m not a legacy guy. I just want to make sure Virginia is in much, much, much better shape than when I found it, and I think it is,” he said in an exclusive interview following a Sept. 28 rally in Halifax County. “… So listen, it has been an amazing time serving as governor, but I’ve still got about three months left. We’re going to finish strong.”
Led by Youngkin, the Republican ticket shocked the political pundit class with a 2021 upset after eight years of Democratic dominance cast questions as to whether the Old Dominion was still a purple state.
On Tuesday, however, the term-limited Youngkin saw his hopes of a GOP dynasty come to an abrupt halt after Democrats, led by former CIA operative Abigail Spanberger, routed the election for top three executive roles and gained a supermajority in the state legislature.
Despite remaining focused on the campaign and his final months in office, Youngkin did mention several highlights of his agenda that he hoped would not be unraveled by the incoming Democratic leadership.
“Listen, we have had incredible economic growth and job creation. Neighborhoods are safer. Parents are in charge of their kids again,” he said.
“Education has restored excellence. And we’re seeing a workforce prepared to take those great jobs,” he added. “All of that has enabled us to be financially stronger than we have ever been in the history of this commonwealth.”
Youngkin noted that the strength of his pro-business economy had helped to insulate Virginia from the D.C. dysfunction to the north.
“It allows us to do stuff like step in and provide these food assistance benefits when the federal government being shut down by Senate Democrats isn’t doing it,” he said.
The commonwealth has been particularly impacted by the Schumer Shutdown due to its proximity to the federal government.
Democrats’ attempt to force the restoration of healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants that were excised as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has now become the longest-running stalemate over a continuing resolution to fund the government in U.S. History.
Some have theorized that Youngkin may have purposefully put his weight behind Earle‒Sears, who was criticized for a lack of charisma and ran behind Spanberger for the entirety of the campaign, despite holding the advantage of incumbency.
Virginia governors are prohibited from holding office for consecutive terms, but are eligible to be reelected to nonconsecutive terms.
A friend of mine told me he believes Glenn Youngkin ran Winsome Earle-Sears and blocked a Republican primary for governor to set himself up for 2028. "See! Only I can win a purple state," will be Youngkin's pitch.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 5, 2025
The 58-year-old also has been floated frequently as a presidential hopeful.
Following the election defeat on Tuesday, Youngkin held a press conference where he reiterated a similar message downplaying talk of any legacy.
“The answer is still the same,” spokesman Peter Finocchio told Headline USA. “He is focused on finishing out his term.”
