Old Dominion News

Republican Glenn Youngkin achieved a come-from-behind victory to defeat former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe to be Virginia's next governor.

During his victory speech in the early hours Wednesday morning, Youngkin said he would get to work revamping Virginia's educational system.

"There is no time to waste," he told an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, as reported by NBC Washington. "We work in real people time, not government time. So on Day 1, we're going to work. We're going to restore excellence in our schools. We will invest the largest education budget in the history of the commonwealth. We're going to invest in teachers, new facilities in education. We're going to introduce choice within the public school system."

Youngkin, a millionaire businessman who proclaimed not to be a politician, resisted any connection to Donald Trump and focused on McAuliffe's performance in dealing with education and the economy. McAuliffe had said parents should not have a say in what schools teach, while Youngkin advocated for more parental input, NBC Washington reports. McAuliffe's comment helped turn the race around as the former governor had been leading in most polls. 

"We're going to embrace our parents, not ignore them," Youngkin said during his victory speech.

Youngkin trailed 54.7% to 44.8% early in the evening but rallied to claim 50.7% percent to McAuliffe's 48.6% of an estimated 3.3 million votes cast.

Younkin's victory was a blow to Democrats after President Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points in the 2020 election. The last time Republicans won a statewide election in Virginia was in 2009.

McAuliffe, who served as Virginia governor from 2014-18, released a Twitter statement conceding defeat Wednesday morning.  

"I am proud that we spent this campaign fighting for the values we so deeply believe in," he said. "We must protect Virginia's great public schools and invest in our students. We must protect affordable health care coverage, raise the minimum wage faster and expand paid leave, so working families have a fighting shot."

He also congratulated Youngkin.  

"I hope Virginians will join me in wish the best to him and his family," McAuliffe wrote. The former governor closed by saying, "Serving as Virginia's 72nd governor was the highest honor of my life, and I will never stop fighting to make our commonwealth stronger and brighter for all."