Old Dominion News

Republican Glenn Youngkin upset Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race, besting the former governor by 2.1 points. 

Restoration PAC made valuable contributions.

One of the PAC's key moves was airing a $1.75 million TV ad criticizing McAuliffe’s record on crime when he was a governor from 2014-2018.

“We decided for the first time ever to get involved in a governor’s race because of the historic opportunity to reverse course on damaging, anti-American policies in Virginia,” Restoration PAC Executive Director Doug Truax told Old Dominion News. “Thankfully, our effort helped Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin and other top Republicans to gain office in a tight contest yesterday. It was a great team effort by many like-minded patriots. Conservatives across America are more determined than ever in 2022 and beyond to repair the damage Democrat politicians are heaping on our nation and to restore the principles and policies that made America great.”

The ad, titled “Too Dangerous,” highlights the fact that under McAuliffe’s recent term as governor, the murder rate rose by 43%.

Youngkin ended up with a 2.1 point edge over McAuliffe, giving Republicans control of the state's leadership positions for the first time since 2014.

"Together, together, we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth," Youngkin said in his victory speech, according to CBS.

“And friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one,” Youngkin added. “There is no time to waste. Our kids can't wait, we work in real-people time, not government time. So on day one, we're going to work. We're going to restore excellence in our schools."

An NBC News Virginia exit poll found that 74% of Democrats and 94% of Republicans believe parents should have a lot or some say in their children's curriculum, while just 23% of Democrats and 3% of Republicans said parents should have not much or no influence on their children's curriculum.

The state has seesawed between voting Democratic or Republican and has earned a place as a swing state in national elections. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won the state by 10 points.

Restoration PAC has become one of the most effective conservative SuperPACs in America. 

Its blockbuster 2020 anti-Biden TV spot, “Very Good Reasons,” was one of the most prolific and persuasive ads in the nationwide presidential campaign.