Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., was sworn in as the first Republican governor in almost a decade in the Old Dominion. Throughout the campaign cycle, his focus was on putting parents back in charge of their children’s education, and on Saturday, he fulfilled those promises.
His list of executive actions included banning critical race theory in all K-12 public schools, ending the mask mandate for public schools, and suspending the vaccine mandate for state employees.
Youngkin in total signed nine executive orders and two executive directives on Saturday. The governor opened an investigation into the Loudoun County Public School system, pulled Virginia out of the RGGI, and declared the state open for business, cutting restrictions on job creation throughout the state by 25 percent.
Gov. Youngkin delivered an inspiring inaugural address outside the Richmond Capitol’s steps, promising to give the power “back to the people” and strive to work for all Virginians no matter who they voted for.
Youngkin pulled a decisive victory over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D-Va., who gave the campaign a golden egg when he said he does not believe that parents should be in charge of their children’s education.
Alongside Youngkin, another historic ticket was sworn in. Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, R-Va., the first black woman to hold statewide office in its history, and Attorney General Jason Miyares, R-Va., whose mother fled communist Cuba to seek a better life in America, were also sworn, making it the most diverse ticket in the commonwealth’s history.
Virginia Republicans have their work cut out for them as the former administration was one of the most progressive in the Old Dominion’s history. Now, it is up to Youngkin’s administration to undo catastrophic abortion laws and gun control legislation.
