Glenn Youngkin - Ballotpedia

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BP-Initials-UPDATED.pngThis page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.Glenn YoungkinRepublican PartyPrior offices:Governor of VirginiaYears in office: 2022 - 2026Predecessor: Ralph Northam (D)Successor: Abigail Spanberger (D)CompensationBase salary$175,000Elections and appointmentsLast electionNovember 2, 2021EducationBachelor'sRice University, 1990GraduateHarvard Business School, 1994PersonalReligionChristianProfessionBusiness executiveContactCampaign websiteCampaign FacebookCampaign XCampaign InstagramPersonal XPersonal LinkedIn

Glenn Youngkin (Republican Party) was the Governor of Virginia. He assumed office on January 15, 2022. He left office on January 17, 2026.

Youngkin's 2021 gubernatorial campaign was his first run for elected office. Before being elected governor, he worked as co-CEO and president of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, from 1995 to 2020.[1]

In his 2021 Candidate Connection survey submitted to Ballotpedia, Youngkin said, "I am a conservative who believes that the best government is one that stays out of people’s everyday lives as much as possible. I’m committed to not raising taxes, removing regulatory burdens for small businesses, making sure that our children have the best, most affordable education possible, and that our Constitutional rights are protected."[2]

In 2021, Youngkin defeated former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) 51% to 49%, making Youngkin the first Republican to win the Virginia governorship since 2009.[3] When Youngkin assumed office at the start of 2022, Virginia had a divided government, with both the governor's office and Virginia House of Delegates having Republican control, and the Virginia State Senate having Democratic control. Click here to read more about Virginia's 2021 elections. During his first two days in office, he issued nine executive orders on topics ranging from education to criminal justice, including orders prohibiting the teaching of Critical race theory (CRT) in K-12 public schools.[4]

In Virginia, governors initiate the biennial budget process, submitting a budget proposal to the state legislature, which then considers the bill, along with legislative or executive amendments, before returning the bill to the governor for his or her signature.[5] In 2022, Youngkin proposed amendments to the state budget, including more tax reductions, law enforcement funding, and charter school funding.[6]

The Washington Post wrote the budget gave "the governor a partial victory on the tax cuts he vowed to deliver on the campaign trail last year. It calls for eliminating the 1.5 percent state grocery tax, for instance, but leaves in place the 1 percent levy imposed by localities."[7] The Virginia Mercury's Graham Moomaw, Kate Masters, and Sarah Vogelsong said the Virginia State Legislature rejected Youngkin's proposals to add an amendment that would have prohibited Medicaid from covering abortions in cases of incapacitating fetal deformities and created "a new felony that could be used to punish protesters who target judges’ homes or courthouses." Moomaw, Masters, and Vogelsong said the legislature approved Youngkin's amendments to narrow the earned sentencing credits for incarcerated individuals and transfer financial aid originally intended for undocumented students to historically Black colleges and universities.[8]

In 2022, Youngkin campaigned for Republicans in other states in the lead-up to the midterm elections, including for Michigan gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon (R) and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R).[9]

Contents

  • 1 Biography
  • 2 Political career
  • 3 Elections
    • 3.1 2025
    • 3.2 2021
      • 3.2.1 Campaign finance
  • 4 Campaign themes
    • 4.1 2021
      • 4.1.1 Campaign website
  • 5 Notable endorsements
  • 6 Noteworthy events
    • 6.1 Reported as possible 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee
  • 7 See also
  • 8 External links
  • 9 Footnotes

Biography

Glenn Youngkin earned a bachelor's degree from Rice University in 1990 and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1994. Youngkin's career experience includes working as a co-CEO of Carlyle Group. He co-founded Virginia Ready.[10][11]

Political career

Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.

Youngkin's political career includes the following offices:

  • 2022-2026: Governor of Virginia

Elections

2025

See also: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2025

Glenn Youngkin was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.

2021

See also: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021 (June 8 Democratic primary)

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021 (May 8 Republican convention)

General election

General election for Governor of Virginia

Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, Princess Blanding, and Paul Davis in the general election for Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.

Candidate%Votes
✔Image of Glenn YoungkinGlenn Youngkin (R) Candidate Connection  50.6  1,663,596
Image of Terry McAuliffeTerry McAuliffe (D)   48.6  1,600,116
Image of Princess BlandingPrincess Blanding (Liberation Party) Candidate Connection  0.7  23,125
Image of Paul DavisPaul Davis (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection  0.0  0
 Other/Write-in votes  0.1 2,593

Ballotpedia Logo

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,289,430
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

  • Brad Froman (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia

Terry McAuliffe defeated Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan, Justin Fairfax, and Lee Carter in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.

Candidate%Votes
✔Image of Terry McAuliffeTerry McAuliffe  62.1  307,367
Image of Jennifer D. Carroll FoyJennifer D. Carroll Foy  19.8  98,052
Image of Jennifer McClellanJennifer McClellan  11.8  58,213
Image of Justin FairfaxJustin Fairfax  3.6  17,606
Image of Lee CarterLee Carter  2.8  13,694

Ballotpedia Logo

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 494,932
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican convention

Republican Convention for Governor of Virginia

Select round: Round 6 Round 5 Round 4 Round 3 Round 2 Round 1

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Glenn Youngkin in round 6 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

Ballotpedia Logo

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 12,555
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

  • Merle Rutledge (R)
  • Kurt Santini (R)
  • Paul Davis (R)

Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Glenn Youngkin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Youngkin's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a homegrown Virginian who has worked in business for 30 years. I’m running for governor to rebuild Virginia into the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

  • Virginia’s economy has stalled while neighboring states thrive. Virginia’s businesses are drowning in high costs and red-tape . We need a governor with real-world experience who can create jobs, keep businesses from leaving, put an open-for-business sign on Virginia, and create a rip-roaring economy that lifts all Virginians.

  • I will protect and defend Virginians’ Constitutional rights and personal liberties, which are being threatened like never before.

  • The cost of living in Virginia is too high and continues to rise making the American dream un-attainable for too many Virginians. Virginia should be the best place to raise live, work and raise a family. and that starts with more jobs and lower costs, including taxes, fees and healthcare costs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m running for governor because I believe we must rebuild Virginia’s future and make it the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family. Rebuilding Virginia begins by building a rip-roaring economy that lowers the cost of living for all Virginians. I am a conservative who believes that the best government is one that stays out of people’s everyday lives as much as possible. I’m committed to not raising taxes, removing regulatory burdens for small businesses, making sure that our children have the best, most affordable education possible, and that our Constitutional rights are protected.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my mom, she was a strong woman who got things done and cared about people more than herself. She helped our family through some difficult times and was always a guiding light for me.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I’m not a politician, but politicians certainly spend a lot of time talking about solving problems. We need elected officials who can lead with character and integrity. We need leaders who don’t just talk about solving problems but have actually done it. We need elected officials who are guided by principles not the special interests they’re indebted to. When you’re elected to office you work for the people.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

30 years of building business and delivering results has taught me that success comes down to vision, team building, executing, and delivering results. One of the great failings of many political leaders is due to basic lack of experience because they’ve never run anything. If you do the same thing over and over with the same bad plan, you will get the same bad results.

What do you love most about your state?

I love the heart, soul, and grit of Virginians. America’s roots are in Virginia: the first assembly and longest-running state legislature is born out of Virginia, and the ideas of a representative democracy were born out of that same state legislature. The institutional foundation of America from the Declaration of Independence to our governing philosophies were first written down by Virginians and then adopted by our great country, and today I want to ensure that Virginia’s legacy as one of the great states in America continues.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Youngkin's campaign website stated the following:

“

GLENN YOUNGKIN knows there’s a lot to do in just four short years, and to succeed we must start strong. As Governor, Glenn will start his term with his DAY ONE GAME PLAN to lay the foundation for his vision for a vibrant Virginia. This game plan is just the first step to making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Glenn is an outsider, not a politician. He spent his career leading teams, creating jobs, and building businesses – he knows how to get things done. Glenn will apply his business experience to the challenges Virginia faces and the opportunities before us.

The Game Plan One party Democrat control is failing Virginians: our recovery from the pandemic ranks in the bottom 10 among states, our students are behind in school, violent crime has risen to 20-year highs, and much of government, like the Virginia Employment Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles, is broken. People are voting with their feet and leaving the Commonwealth.

It’s time for bold leadership. Glenn will make sure Virginia has better-paying jobs, the best schools, the safest communities, and a government that works for you. His game plan will create 400,000 jobs and make sure every student graduates career or college ready.

Glenn will cut exploding costs for families and relieve the burdens of inflation and taxes. He will cut regulations to create jobs and make it easier for innovators and entrepreneurs to get small businesses moving again. He will restore our high standards for schools and our students, ban critical race theory, invest in our teachers and schools, and empower parents with real choices.

He will defend - not defund - our law enforcement heroes, end human trafficking, and rescue our failing mental health system. And Glenn will make state government honest, efficient, and modern.

While moving forward on these priorities, Glenn will protect our constitutional rights.

The result will be a Commonwealth where businesses can prosper, students can thrive, communities are safe, and people – not politicians – are in charge.

It’s going to take a new kind of leader, not a failed politician looking for a second chance, to make it happen. When Glenn is Governor, we will get it done together.

WE HAVE A LOT WE NEED TO GET DONE HERE IN VIRGINIA, AND WE NEED TO START STRONG. - GLENN YOUNGKIN

Glenn Youngkin has a vision to make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Glenn will take on the challenges facing Virginians and make sure we have the best jobs, the best schools, the safest communities, and a government that works for all of us. There’s a lot to do in four years, and we must start strong to succeed. It all starts with the DAY ONE GAME PLAN.

Cut Costs for Virginians The cost of living is rising for Virginians, and people are leaving the Commonwealth to look for jobs and start lives elsewhere. Glenn will tackle the rising cost of living and cut costs for Virginians by:

  • Eliminating Virginia’s Grocery Tax & Suspending the Recent Gas Tax Hike for 12 Months
  • Providing a One Time Tax Rebate of $600 for Joint Filers and $300 for Individuals
  • Ending Runaway Property Taxes by Requiring Voter Approval for Increases
  • Cutting Income Taxes by Doubling the Standard Deduction & Cutting Taxes on Veteran Retirement Pay

Keep Our Communities Safe Failed leadership and dangerous policies have left Virginia less safe. With rising violent crime and the murder rate at a 20-year high, Glenn will keep our communities safe by:

  • Fully Funding Law Enforcement & Protecting Qualified Immunity for our Law Enforcement Heroes
  • Firing the Parole Board & Keeping Violent Criminals Off Our Streets
  • Launching #UnityInTheCommunity Programs Operation Ceasefire & Project Exile
  • Fixing Our Broken Mental Health System

Reinvigorate Job Growth Add 400,000 jobs & 10,000 Startups Virginia’s jobs machine is broken. After zero job growth from 2013 through 2020, Virginia currently ranks 44th in job recovery during the pandemic and was recently ranked as the 49th best state to start a business. Glenn will jumpstart our economy by:

  • Keeping Virginia Open and Protecting Lives & Livelihoods
  • Protecting Virginians from Forced Unionization & Cutting Job Killing Regulations by 25%
  • Launching #JumpstartJobs to Develop Talent, Train Workers, Attract Investment, & Make Virginia the Easiest State to Start a Business
  • Reinvigorating Small Business by Enacting a Small Business Tax Holiday & Ending the Tax on Rebuild VA and PPP Loans

Restore Excellence In Education Virginia’s students have fallen behind because of extended school closings, lower school standards, and political agendas. Glenn will empower parents and restore excellence and commonsense in education by:

  • Keeping Schools Open Safely Five Days a Week
  • Restoring High Expectations & Getting Every Student College or Career Ready
  • Ridding Political Agendas from the Classroom by Banning Critical Race Theory
  • Rebuilding Crumbling Schools, Raising Teacher Pay, & Investing in Special Education Programs
  • Creating at least 20 New Innovation Charter Schools across the K-12 Spectrum to Provide Choice

Make Government Work For You Virginia’s government is failing its fundamental mission – serving the people. Our system is broken as customer service at agencies such as the DMV and VEC disappears. Glenn will make government work by:

  • Fixing the DMV & the Virginia Employment Commission
  • Protecting our Constitutional Rights
  • Conducting a Statewide Transparency Audit to Root out Waste, Fraud & Abuse
  • Restoring Photo ID Laws & Making it Easy to Vote and Hard to Cheat
  • Investing More Money in Roads & Highways
  • Completing Long-Delayed Environmental Projects[12]
 ”
—Glenn Youngkin's campaign website (2021)[13]

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Glenn Youngkin
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Winsome Earle-Sears  source  (R) Governor of Virginia (2025) GeneralLost General
Donald Trump  source  (Conservative Party, R) President of the United States (2024) PrimaryWon General
Tara Durant  source  (R) Virginia State Senate District 27 (2023) GeneralWon General
Notable ballot measure endorsements by Glenn Youngkin
MeasurePositionOutcome
Virginia Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment (April 2026)  source OpposeOn the ballot

Noteworthy events

Reported as possible 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee

See also: Vice presidential candidates, 2024

Media reports discussed Youngkin as a possible 2024 Republican vice presidential candidate.[14] Former President Donald Trump (R) selected U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate on July 15, 2024, the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention.

In 2020, President Joe Biden (D) announced Vice President Kamala Harris (D) as his running mate six days before the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). In 2016, both Hillary Clinton (D) and Trump announced their running mates three days before the DNC and RNC, respectively.

See also

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ LinkedIn, "Glenn Youngkin," accessed April 5, 2021
    2. ↑ Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey submitted on Feb. 19, 2021.
    3. ↑ Virginia Public Access Project, "Governor," accessed September 27, 2023
    4. ↑ Virginia Office of the Governor, "Executive Actions," accessed September 27, 2023
    5. ↑ Virginia House Appropriations Committee, "Executive Budget Process," accessed September 27, 2023
    6. ↑ Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Youngkin proposes $3.5 billion in budget amendments without saying how to pay for them," January 24, 2022
    7. ↑ Washington Post, "Virginia budget compromise gives Gov. Glenn Youngkin partial win," May 26, 2022
    8. ↑ Virginia Mercury, "General Assembly hands Youngkin wins, losses on budget amendments," June 17, 2022
    9. ↑ CNN, "Youngkin is ‘hugging everyone’ as he tries to build a brand as the GOP’s great unifier," September 28, 2022
    10. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 26, 2021
    11. ↑ CBS News, "Who is Glenn Youngkin, the Republican who will be the next governor of Virginia?" accessed December 10, 2021
    12. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    13. ↑ Glenn Youngkin's campaign website, “Glenn's Day One Game Plan,” accessed Oct. 25, 2021
    14. ↑ Politico, "The GOP Is Already Clashing Over Trump’s VP Pick," January 18, 2024
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    Preceded by Ralph Northam (D) Governor of Virginia 2022-2026 Succeeded by Abigail Spanberger (D)
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