Virginia parents hail Glenn Youngkin's victory over Democrat McAuliffe as a win for education and family after he pledged to ban CRT from schools
Virginia parents are hailing Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin's victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe Tuesday night, saying his election was a win for education and parental rights.
Education became a key issue in the gubernatorial race in Virginia as Youngkin and McAuliffe clashed over hot button issues such as critical race theory and the recent sexual assault of a female student in the bathrooms by a boy wearing a skirt.
But it appears that voters chose to elect a public servant instead of a political servant,' Virginia mother Elizabeth Perrin told Fox News.
She supports Youngkins' pledge to ban CRT and support parental say in education.
'What we have seen is the importance of family values and parental rights in our education system.'
'Youngkin wants the best for our children, and I think he's going to thank Loudoun for all the work they did to make that the issue,' Patti Menders, a mother and president of the Loudoun County Republican Women's Club echoed.
Virginians say Glenn Youngkin's victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe Tuesday night, saying his election was a win for education and parental rights (Pictured: Youngkin giving his victory speech early Wednesday morning)
Laura Zorc (pictured), director of education reform at Building Education for Students Together, argued: 'Parental rights in education were on the ballot this election'
Education has been a key issue throughout Virginia's race for governor, especially in battleground Loudoun County, which has been the state's epicenter of anger regarding school curriculum and policies.
Youngkin, while on the campaign trail, promised Virginia parents: 'We're going to take the power of our children's education.'
As the results rolled in and he was declared victor, Virginians celebrated what they believed to be 'a win for parents all over the Commonwealth.'
'Parental rights in education were on the ballot this election,' Laura Zorc, director of education reform at Building Education for Students Together, argued.
'Parents (Republican, Independent, and Democrat) across the country have been saying, 'We don't want your politics in our schools.' Tonight, parents delivered on their promises to vote these elites out of office.'
The parents allege that Youngkin's election means their voices were heard and 'that our children matter.'
'It has been great to see how the importance of our children's education and the parents matter movement has brought so many people together,' said Brandon Michon, a father of three who was spoken out at numerous Loudoun County School Board meetings.
'This is Virginia's opportunity to raise the bar, and we will be doing it with Glenn Youngkin as governor.'
Youngkin campaigned on a platform focused on school curricula and policies, supporting parental say in education and taking a stance against critical race theory. His supporters (pictured on Nov. 2) are calling his victory 'a win for parents all over the Commonwealth'
Youngkin shot up in the polls after Democrat Terry McAuliffe (pictured at a rally on Nov. 2) dismissed the existence of critical race theory in Virginia schools and said: 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach'
Youngkin shot up in the polls after McAuliffe played down concerns over critical race theory in Virginia schools and said: 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'
Many parents opposed McAuliffe's stance, believing they should have a say in their children's education, especially if explicit material is being taught in the classroom.
The Republican echoed their claims and promised that not only would parents have say, but that Virginia's schools would not push political agendas.
'Our kids can't wait,' Youngkin said during his victory speech Tuesday night.
'On day one we're going to work. We're going to restore excellence in our schools. We will invest largest education budget in history of commonwealth.'
He continued: 'We're going to introduce choice in our public school system how about that? Choice in our public school system. We're going to embrace our parents, not ignore them.'
Nicole Neily, a Virginia mother and president of Parents Defending Education, argued that 'this election has demonstrated that education is a salient political issue, and one that is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. If politicians ignore it — or denigrate voters and parents — they do so at their peril'
Youngkin was declared governor around 1am Wednesday with 95% of precincts reporting. He lead McAuliffe by about 2%, 51.1% to 48.2%.
This is the first time Virginia has elected a Republican governor since 2009.
'This election has demonstrated that education is a salient political issue, and one that is likely to persist for the foreseeable future,' Nicole Neily, a Virginia mother and president of Parents Defending Education, stated.
'If politicians ignore it — or denigrate voters and parents — they do so at their peril.'
In addition to his education, Youngkin campaigned on plans for tax cuts, supporting law enforcement and reestablishing 'trust' between police officers and communities.
'We will reduce our cost of living ... We're going to eliminate the grocery tax, suspend the most recent hike in the gas tax ... We are going to save Virginia families $1500 year one. We are going to keep our communities safe,' he touted in his victory speech.
'The spirit of Virginia is coming together like never before, of Virginia taking our commonwealth back.'
Youngkin made no mention of his opponent, who has not yet admitted defeat in the race.
Hours earlier, McAuliffe had refused to concede the race when he took the stage at 10:20pm, saying: 'We're going to continue to count the votes because every single Virginian deserves to have their vote counted.'
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