Virginia Republicans are on track for the political upset of the year. Two new polls in the commonwealth show that our gubernatorial election this fall is a competitive race between former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin. A JMS Analytics poll shows McAuliffe up four, and a Trafalgar survey has his lead at just two — both well within the margin of error.
Youngkin’s victory would halt a decade of Democratic gains in a state that has drifted from red to blue at the presidential level, and where Democrats also hold a trifecta in Richmond. It would deny McAuliffe a second term as governor, stop Democrats from stretching their streak in governors’ races to four, and provide an early sign that liberals have overreached ahead of the 2022 midterms.
And if this happens, Virginia Republicans will have ranked-choice voting to thank for unifying the party behind our nominee.