Over the past month, Grounds hosted both of the major gubernatorial candidates — Youngkin-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earlee-Sears and Democratic candidate, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. Both politicians have won their party’s nomination and are ready to persuade voters that, come November, they are the best choice for the governorship. With both candidates making intentional stops to Grounds, voters are reminded that it is time to look towards the future of Virginia, outside of Youngkin and his influence on our University. This election will be unprecedented since no matter which way the election goes, someone will become the first female governor of this state.
This will be the first gubernatorial election in the nation since President Donald Trump took office. Many structural changes have occurred since his administration has stepped into the White House, each state reacting differently to such transformation on the federal level. Who Virginians vote into office this fall may predict what policies will influence the state agenda. Hence, voters must make it their top priority to think critically and closely as they decide who their ballot will support this fall.
To understand why Virginians must be careful when casting ballots this fall, voters have to understand the responsibilities and legacy Youngkin will be leaving behind as he steps away from the Governor’s Mansion. This is a legacy which proves the power of the governor to influence local policy decisions. For example, Youngkin’s Board of Visitors appointments, which are being determined by money donated to campaigns instead of merit and his approval of cutting all DEI programs at our University have wreaked havoc on the basic premises of this institution. Certainly, Youngkin’s influence on our University caused instability for the state which cannot be continued into the next gubernatorial term.
But it is not just Youngkin’s impact on our University which will haunt us as he leaves, his policies statewide had similar disastrous impacts. His response to the infrastructural water outage in Richmond left many people unsafe and his constant push for vouchers at private schools undercuts the public school system which desperately needs public funding. These are just a few of the many policies which have shown that his judgement has not served all Virginians equally.
With this legacy following Youngkin as he exits office next year, his endorsement should be seen as more of a warning and less of a credible influence over Virginia’s vote this fall. His endorsement of Winsome Earle-Sears foreshadows another four years of similar, unstable governance. Especially since she served under him as Lieutenant Governor this term, voters should look to Youngkin’s record to understand the basic premise of her policies. Indubitably, she will continue similar policies and values that dominated Youngkin’s term. For instance, Sears and Youngkin have together limited voting rights for ex-felons who have dutifully served their sentences, initiated an unwarranted voting purge, limited critical race theory teaching in schools and developed countless other tactics which did not improve the lives of Virginians.
There is a large contrast between the goals for Early-Sears and Spanberger. Abigail Spanberger entered this race because she believes it is necessary to counteract current and future federal policies that will dominate this era and protect the citizens of this great state. Her campaign promises to lower grocery, housing and pharmacy prices for Virginians. Furthermore, she recently rallied with Virginian Moms to fight for more substantial gun reform. A candidate focused on housing policy could be beneficial to Charlottesville residents, where rising housing instability impacts residents and students at our University. This is a great distinction from her opponent whose past administration has shown time and time again that some of their policies have been misguided and pushed certain agendas with no caveat or protection for their constituents. But most importantly, Spanberger comprises an intentional ideology which seeks the best for all Virginians — and not just for the highest donors.
With so much political uncertainty, it is crucial Virginians take a deeper look into this upcoming election. Virginians cannot simply hope federal policies will not impact us directly, because the fact of the matter is that they will. The only way to combat this is through our state elections. Thus, I encourage everyone to take an active role in this election. The easiest way to start is by simply researching these candidates, attending town halls and truly understanding their platform. Whether it is addressing grocery and housing prices, DEI protections or tackling countless other issues, who you vote for this fall will shape our University’s future and Virginians at large. Let us vote with purpose this fall to secure a more equitable Virginia.
Ryan Williams is a senior columnist who writes about politics for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.
The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Cavalier Daily. Columns represent the views of the authors alone.
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