The Biggest Race Of The Year: Everything You Need To Know About The Virginia Gubernatorial Election

With November upon us, the eyes of the nation have turned to Virginia, where a contentious gubernatorial campaign between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin will finally be settled. 

The race, widely considered a referendum on the performance of President Biden one year into his first term, was considered a sure-fire victory for Democrats just months ago. But a late surge by Youngkin has polls showing a dead heat in the days before final votes are cast. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s most important statewide election.

Who Is Glenn Youngkin?

Youngkin has never run for public office, spending his last 25 years working in accounting and finance after receiving his MBA from Harvard University. Most notably, Youngkin served as President and COO of The Carlyle Group, a prominent private equity firm in Washington. 

After defeating a crowded primary field for the Republican nomination, Youngkin received the endorsement of former President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and a slew of other Republican leaders. Though he has not publicly campaigned with Mr. Trump, Youngkin has said the former President “represents so much of why I’m running.”

Who Is Terry McAuliffe?

McAuliffe is the former governor of Virginia and a longtime Democratic Party operative. He served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election campaign, and more recently as chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. From 2001 to 2005, McAuliffe served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

In 2014, McAuliffe secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Virginia after running unopposed. He then defeated Republican Ken Cuccinelli, and served as Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. More recently, McAuliffe was employed by Hunton Andrews Kurth, a controversial law firm that’s come under fire for fighting on behalf of public school districts against alleged victims of sexual assault.

Virginia Going Red?

Throughout 2021, most national media outlets wrote off the Virginia gubernatorial race as an easy win for Democrats. Given the commonwealth’s recent electoral history, it’s easy to see why. 

Virginia hasn’t gone Red in a presidential election since 2004, and hasn’t elected a Republican Governor since 2009.

Virginia Presidential Election Results

2020: 54.1% Biden — 44.0% Trump

2016: 49.7% Clinton — 44.4% Trump

2012: 51.2% Obama — 47.3% Romney

2008: 52.6% Obama — 46.3% McCain

2004: 45.5% Kerry — 53.7% Bush

The Latest Polls

Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2021, polling consistently showed Terry McAuliffe with a sizable lead over Youngkin. From July to September, every single poll listed

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