Virginia GOP Presses Ex-Governor for Help

BY OLIVIA BEAVERS

WASHINGTON—As Democrats wage an aggressive public campaign to persuade Virginia voters to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of November, some Republicans complain the state’s most prominent GOP figure is missing from their counterattacks: former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Youngkin won the governorship in 2021 in the blue-leaning state and Republicans say he would be an influential voice in the fight. Democrats are seeking to take the current House map—which has six Democratic seats to five Republicans— and redraw it into a 10to-1 blue-red split for the midterms. Early voting on the measure starts Friday, and the contest wraps up on April 21.

A group of House Republicans approached Youngkin in November, shortly before he left office, and implored him to help campaign against the voter referendum, they say. They want to see Youngkin, a former co-chief executive officer of the Carlyle Group, help with fundraising, ad messaging and other efforts to drive their voters to turn out. But so far, Youngkin hasn’t engaged in raising money or appeared in ads to drive opposition to the Democratic plan.

Some who attended the meeting last year with Youngkin said they came away frustrated, while others characterized it as more an opening salvo in a conversation about getting the former governor on board.

GOP Rep. Rob Wittman, who represents a district near Richmond, said Youngkin was “adamant to say he was not going to get involved” after they asked him for his help. “Glenn is just missing in action,” he said in an interview.

Wittman, who is at risk of losing his seat if the map is redrawn, argued that the lack of support from Youngkin should be considered in whatever job he seeks next. “If you’re not going to fight for your own state, for your own party, that’s pretty poor testament to what you would do if the president were to select you for a position.”

Possible cabinet pick

Youngkin has been floated as a possible cabinet pick for President Trump. He has also been mentioned as a possible presidential contender in 2028.

Rep. Ben Cline (R., Va.), who was at the meeting, voiced frustration that Youngkin hasn’t been more engaged so far but expressed optimism that could change. Cline said Youngkin was “very strident” against redrawing the maps while in office and then went quiet once he left. He said he was hopeful that Youngkin reemerges “as one of the strongest opponents of gerrymandering” in Virginia.

A new Virginia map, if approved by voters and not blocked by the courts, could substantially blunt or even erase the small increase in GOPleaning House seats that Republicans gained nationwide from an unusual, mid-decade bout of redistricting in recent months. States usually draw new district lines at the start of each decade, based on population changes recorded in the Census.

Allies of Youngkin fiercely defended him. They said he had reached out to the White House and House GOP leadership offering to help.

“The notion that Gov. Youngkin has denied requests for assistance is false and those saying otherwise should be ashamed,” Becca Glover, the executive director of Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, said Wednesday when Youngkin representatives were asked for comment about the criticism. “He remains willing to help stop this effort to suppress Virginians’ vote.” Glover said only Rep. Jen Kiggans (R., Va.) has asked Youngkin for help, and he agreed to speak at her kickoff event.

A day after Glover’s comment to the Journal, Youngkin posted a video on social media in which he said Democrats were attempting a “power grab” to undo efforts designed to create a fair map. “I hope you will join me in voting no,” he said.

Two of the governor’s top aides in the meeting disputed Wittman’s characterization, arguing that there wasn’t a direct request from lawmakers and that Youngkin didn’t say one way or another whether he was going to help. It was a strategy meeting that was meant to be the beginning of discussions on the path forward, they said, with most of the conversation focusing on the legal fight.

The Virginia Supreme Court is weighing a case in which Republicans argue the new map is unconstitutional. It is expected to rule after the referendum takes place.

Wittman in a subsequent statement said his remarks in The Wall Street Journal interview were “in the heat of the moment” and didn’t reflect his views of Youngkin. He said he has since spoken to Youngkin and they are on the “same page.”

Final two states

Virginia and Florida are the last two states that might redraw their House districts this year, following the tit-for-tat redistricting among various states including Texas and California. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has called the legislature into a special session in April to consider new districts there.

They are the “two big dominoes left to fall,” said Kyle Kondik, a U.S. election analyst and managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball.

Democrats are pouring money into the effort. House Majority Forward is allocating $10 million, part of what is so far a $20 million push by Democratic groups. Virginians for Fair Elections announced a two-week, $2.7 million TV ad blitz, urging voters to “vote yes for fair elections.”

Republicans are fighting to prevent that language from being used on the ballot. They say Democrats are misleading voters, including by purchasing billboards with Trump’s face that encourage people to vote in favor of the referendum.