Youngkin Wins GOP Nomination For Governor, Trump's Endorsement

VIRGINIA — Glenn Youngkin, former CEO of The Carlyle Group, won the Republican nomination for governor, outlasting a large group of candidates seeking the candidacy in Saturday's "unassembled" convention.

In response to the convention results, former President Donald Trump issued a statement Tuesday offering his endorsement of Youngkin's candidacy. "He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump said in the statement.

The results were counted by Republican officials after about 30,000 voters cast ranked-choice ballots on Saturday at 39 locations across the state.

Candidate Pete Snyder conceded Monday night after more than 12 hours of vote counting, in which five candidates were knocked from contention, one by one, and their supporters’ next-choice votes were allocated to others still in the running. In the sixth round of counting, Youngkin passed the required 50-percent threshold.

The other candidates in the field were state Sen. Amanda Chase, Del. Kirk Cox, former think thank leader Peter Doran, retired Army Col. Sergio de la Peña and former Roanoke Sheriff Octavia L. Johnson.

“Virginians have made it clear that they are ready for a political outsider with proven business experience to bring real change in Richmond,” Youngkin said in statement.

Youngkin, who has never held political office and reportedly is worth an estimated $254 million, said he has reached out to the other Republican candidates and looks “forward to working together as one team to win in November.”

The Democrats are holding a primary election on June 8 where they will select their nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Early voting has already started in the Democratic primary.

Cox, in a statement Tuesday, said it is time for Republicans to offer an "uplifting vision" to Virginians.

"Our party has nominated a good and honorable man to do that — Glenn Youngkin," Cox said. "He's a tested business leader, a man of deep faith, and I know he wants exactly what we want: a safe and prosperous Commonwealth where people can raise their families. Even though I will not be on the ballot this fall for the first time in 32 years, Glenn has my full and unwavering support, I hope you will give him yours as well."

Youngkin, who lives in Great Falls, stepped down as co-CEO of The Carlyle Group in 2020 after working at the private equity firm for 25 years. Carlyle is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with investments in a variety of industries. Many of Carlyle's holdings are in companies with large government contracts, including the defense industry.

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As governor, Youngkin said he will work to uphold Virginia’s status as a so-called right-to-work state.

On the Democratic side, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who like Youngkin is a multi-millionaire, and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan agree with the Republican candidate's position on keeping Virginia a right-to-work state, while the other three Democratic candidates — Lieutenant Gov. Justin Fairfax, Del. Lee Carter and former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy — have said they would work to repeal the law.

A right-to-work law prohibits both mandatory union membership and initiation fees and dues obligations and permits employees who do not pay dues and initiation fees to receive the benefits the union provides even though they did not contribute funds to the union efforts.

Younkin also opposes ending “qualified immunity” for police officers, a legal doctrine that can shield officers from civil rights lawsuits. All five Democrats seeking the nomination for governor have come out in favor of ending qualified immunity.

In his statement offering his endorsement of Youngkin, Trump said McAuliffe, who is leading in many polls for the Democratic nomination, "was responsible for many of the problems Virginia currently has."

"Virginia doesn't need the Clintons or the Communist Chinese running the state, so say no to Terry McAuliffe, and yes to Patriot Glenn Youngkin!" said Trump, who still has not conceded defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

President Joe Biden beat Trump in Virginia by a wide margin, winning 54 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Trump.

In response to Trump's statement, McAuliffe's campaign said: “Glenn Youngkin spent his campaign fawning all over Donald Trump, and now Trump has returned the favor.”

McAuliffe also released a digital video ad attacking Youngkin as a right-wing extremist and saying the candidate “wants to bring Trump’s extremism to Virginia.”

On Monday, Virginia state Del. Jason Miyares (R-82nd) was declared the winner of the Republican nomination for attorney general, beating three other candidates. The state Republican Party has yet to declare a winner in the race for the lieutenant governor nomination.