Virginia Governor Election Results 2021 Live
Virginia Governor Election Results 2021: Who Won?
The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, to elect the Governor of Virginia. The incumbent Governor, Ralph Northam, was ineligible to run for re-election, due to term limits set by the Virginia Constitution. The candidates for governor were Republican Glenn Youngkin, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, and Libertarian Joe Gervasi.
Early Tuesday evening, the Associated Press called the race for Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, who won a majority of the votes. With a total of 2,921,325 votes or 51% of the vote, McAuliffe is projected to become the next Governor of Virginia.
McAuliffe's Historic Win
McAuliffe's win marks the first time in 21 years that a Democrat has been elected governor of Virginia. McAuliffe, who served as Governor of Virginia from 2014-2018, ran on a platform of expanding health care access and increasing job opportunities for Virginians. Additionally, he pledged to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and to invest in Virginia's public schools.
McAuliffe was also endorsed by a number of prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. Additionally, McAuliffe received support from a number of labor unions and progressive organizations.
Youngkin's Concession
Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin conceded the election shortly after the Associated Press called the race for McAuliffe. In a statement, Youngkin said, “I’m proud of the campaign we ran and the positive message of hope and optimism we brought to the Commonwealth. I want to congratulate Governor-elect McAuliffe on his victory tonight and wish him success in his new role.”
Voter Turnout
The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election saw record-breaking voter turnout, with 3,873,937 voters or 68.6% of the eligible voting population casting a ballot. This marks the highest voter turnout in Virginia in more than 20 years.
What's Next for Virginia?
With Terry McAuliffe set to become the next Governor of Virginia, the state is poised to make some major changes. McAuliffe has promised to expand health care access, raise the minimum wage, and invest in Virginia's public schools. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact the people of Virginia.
Conclusion
The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election was a historic one, with Terry McAuliffe becoming the first Democratic governor in 21 years. With record-breaking voter turnout and a decisive victory for McAuliffe, Virginia is preparing for some major changes in the coming years.