Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin is gaining traction ahead of the state’s competitive gubernatorial race to replace the state’s despised Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam.
Youngkin spoke to a big crowd of 1,000 supporters in Burke, Virginia, a liberal area, according to a campaign press release. During the rally, he told supporters that he will bring transparency, choice, and higher standards to the state’s education system following reports of schools distributing materials containing sexually explicit content involving children to students without informing their parents.
Youngkin’s opponent, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, has come under fire for boasting that parents should not be telling schools what they should teach or what books they should or should not assign to students.
Youngkin also called for an investigation into the Loudoun County School Board for allegedly covering up a sexual assault incident where a male who, dressed like a female, entered the women’s bathroom and raped a female student. The school board reportedly moved the perpetrator to a different school where he allegedly sexually assaulted a second female student in the women’s restroom.
“Two young girls have been sexually assaulted because our system, our system failed to protect them,” said Youngkin.
“As a Virginian, I’m heartbroken for these girls and their families. I’m heartbroken at how their government leaders failed them,” he continued. “As a father, I am ignited with an unwavering resolve to not just fix this but to hold those who have failed our children accountable.”
Youngkin’s large rally turnout in a liberal area of the commonwealth indicates the competitiveness of the state’s election. Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have ramped up campaign efforts for Democrat candidate Terry McAuliffe weeks ahead of the election.
According to a Trafalgar Group poll, Youngkin and McAuliffe are neck-and-neck in the race. Youngkin had 48.4 percent support to McAuliffe’s 47.5 percent. Joe Biden’s approval in the state stood at 39.9 percent support to 51.7 percent disapprove.
Kamala Harris will make a campaign appearance on behalf of McAuliffe on Oct. 21 in Prince William County, one of the most liberal counties in Virginia. Democrats are focusing in the northern part of the state in effort to boost Democrat turnout. Joe Biden is set to appear in the state later this month. Former President Barack Obama will campaign for McAuliffe later as well.