Today is December 29. Here in Virginia, in 19 days, we will — thank God — swear in Democrat Abigal Spanberger as governor, ending the reign-of-error by current Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin sparked presidential buzz four years ago when he upset former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Youngkin spent his first year in office running around the country campaigning for pro-Trump candidates in fifteen states, visiting many of the states 2-3 times. Every single on of these candidates lost — that’s right, they all lost.
In addition to being a proven loser in campaigning, Youngkin’s star faded as he hemmed and hawed about running for president for most of his term, and as he failed to turn Virginia’s legislature red. Meanwhile, Trump lost the state last November and his lieutenant governor lost the race to succeed him this November.
Youngkin is now spending his final month in office squabbling with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger over the state’s universities. Democrats won court decisions that effectively prevented Youngkin from filling 22 board positions at three higher institutions, including five at the University of Virginia, before Spanberger is sworn in. But at Youngkin’s urging and over Spanberger’s objection, the University of Virginia board named a new president before those vacancies are filled. One last stick-in-the-eye to Democrats may give Youngkin a fresh round of accolades from conservatives, but that’s well short of what he needs to join the top tier of Republican hopefuls in 2028.
Meanwhile, a couple of weeks ago there were rumors that Youngkin was being considered by Trump for a Cabinet position as Trump moves to get rid of some of the losers he appointed at the start of his second term. Whatever.
Nothing will happen to make Youngkin a presidential candidate — or a VP candidate for that matter. He should take the $40 million the Carlyle Group gave him to go away and enjoy retirement.