ROANOKE, Virginia – Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin was joined on the campaign trail by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) Wednesday. The former CEO of the Carlyle Group – currently in a seven-way race for the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia – appeared with Cruz in Roanoke, Moneta, and Lynchburg.
In Roanoke, Cruz spoke first, focusing on the theme of “darkness and light” before turning his ire to the current crisis in Washington regarding President Biden’s spending plans. “I hope to God no one tells the Democrats what number is higher than a trillion,” he said.
Cruz called Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent trip to the border “disastrous.”
The conservative firebrand made headlines at the end on March when, during his own fact-finding trip to the border, he was prevented from taking video of the overcrowded conditions in the Donna, Texas Tent Facility.
Cruz moved on to Governor Ralph Northam (D-Virginia), calling the lame duck incumbent “a national embarrassment.” He railed against Virginia Democrats, both at the state and federal level, for turning Old Dominion into a blue state with liberal policies.
However, Senator Cruz said “the hope began” with Glenn Youngkin becoming the Republican nominee for Governor and noted that the last time Democrats had complete control of the federal government, Republicans swept all three of the top elected offices in Virginia’s 2009 election. He said that Youngkin would “whip Terry McAliuffe’s tail,” lauding him as a “conservative outsider.”
Cruz introduced Youngkin, who delivered remarks highlighting his plans on ballot integrity, defending the police, and ending executive orders of Governor Ralph Northam. The candidate added, “When this Governor kept liquor stores and massage parlors open, but kept my church closed, I knew he did not share my values.”
As extreme as Barack Obama was, Joe Biden has said, “Hold my beer.” pic.twitter.com/AWi2VRjoE6
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 5, 2021
Youngkin did not mention any of his Republican opponents by name, however, he focused most of his attacks on presumptive Democratic nominee Terry McAluiffe. When speaking of the former Governor, Youngkin stated, “What McAluiffe is selling, we aren’t buying.”
Youngkin closed his speech by asking voters to “prayerfully consider voters making him their first choice on the ballot.”
At the end of events in Roanoke and Moneta, Youngkin and Cruz met with the crowd and posed for pictures.
The Moneta event was in a school a gymnasium, inspiring Senator Cruz to challenge the school’s basketball team to a game of HORSE after the rally ended. Youngkin and the Senator – both of whom played basketball in college – took about ten minutes to shoot a round.
Excited to be in Salem, Virginia with Sen. @tedcruz! #WinWithGlenn
Watch live: https://t.co/8WOtYUZ1uP— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 5, 2021
Youngkin and Cruz will campaign together in Danville, Chesterfield, and Virginia Beach on Thursday. The 2021 Republican Party of Virginia Unassembled Convention will be held this Saturday, May 8th, at 39 polling locations across the Commonwealth from 9am to 4pm.
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Matt Colt Hall is a reporter for The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow Matt on Twitter at @MattColtHall on Twitter. Send tips to [email protected].
Photos by Glenn Youngkin.
