McAuliffe and Youngkin take debate stage
Gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin butted heads in the 2021 election’s first debate last week.
McAuliffe, a longtime Democrat insider who served as governor of Virginia from 2014-2018, stood by his record, while former private equity boss Youngkin styled himself as a businessman who knows how to “get things done.”
When asked about his position on abortion, Youngkin said that he would support a “pain-threshold bill” that included exceptions in the case of incest, rape, or if the mother’s life was in jeopardy. “My opponent wants to be the abortion governor, and I want to be the jobs governor,” Youngkin said.
McAuliffe warned that if Virginia instituted a ban like Texas, high-tech companies would be driven out of the state. The former governor pledged to defend women’s right to abortion, and advocated for enshrining Roe v. Wade in the Virginia constitution.
One of the moderators pressed McAuliffe on his decision to mention Donald Trump in so many of his campaign ads, and in his rhetoric throughout the campaign. “My opponent is a Trump wannabe,” McAuliffe responded.
McAuliffe repeatedly stated that Youngkin’s economic plans would “run Virginia into a ditch.” The Republican’s plans include a $10 billion education cut that McAuliffe said would force 43,000 out of work.
When asked about climate change, Youngkin said he would not have signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act—which was passed in 2020 and aims to get Virginia electric utilities to 100 percent renewable generation by 2050—while McAuliffe said “of course” he would have signed it.
Both candidates opposed ending qualified immunity for police officers.
When candidates were given the opportunity to ask each other questions, McAuliffe asked Youngkin if he believed a nurse treating an immunocompromised patient should be required to get a vaccine. Youngkin asserted that it should be the nurse’s choice, and criticized McAuliffe for his intentions to mandate vaccines.
Youngkin has made “election integrity” a major talking point in his campaign, echoing false assertions from national Republicans that the 2020 presidential election included voter fraud. When pressed by moderators, both candidates pledged to absolutely accept the results of the election, win or lose. The next debate will take place September 28.—Kristin O’Donoghue
Early voting is now open
Early in-person voting for Virginia’s November 2 election began last Friday. Charlottesville residents can submit ballots at the City Hall Annex downtown, and Albemarle County residents can vote at the County Office Building on Fifth Street. Everyone in the state will have an opportunity to vote for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, as well as their House of Delegates member. City residents will have to choose two of three City Council candidates, as well. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a comprehensive election preview from C-VILLE.
“It is a cruel irony that schools have only just returned to the classroom for full-time instruction since the start of the pandemic and we are already grappling with another act of senseless gun violence.”
—Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott, after a Newport News school shooting left two students injured
In brief
Map mixers
Virginia’s new bipartisan redistricting commission continues its attempt to create a map of state House and Senate districts that both parties consider fair. The commission is comprised of eight Democrats and eight Republicans, and each cohort hired a consultant to draw up statewide map drafts. Those drafts were submitted this week, and now the commission is tasked with mashing the maps together to create something passable for everyone. The group is supposed to finalize a new map by October 10.
Bus bidding war
Thanks in part to the pandemic, local school districts are facing a dire shortage of bus drivers. In an effort to address the problem, this summer Charlottesville City Schools gave its drivers a $2,400 bonus. That sparked a bit of local free market competition—Albemarle County has announced that it’s now offering a $2,500 bonus for new drivers. The Daily Progress reports that Charlottesville is 20 drivers short and Albemarle currently has 18 transportation jobs open.
More shots for all
This week, Pfizer announced that its coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 to 11, based on robust trial results. The company plans to apply for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the month, according to the Associated Press. Also this week, the FDA is expected to approve Pfizer booster shots for high-risk adults. The Blue Ridge Health District continues to hold vaccination events regularly, including walk-in vaccination opportunities five times per week.