Former business executive and multi-millionaire Glenn Youngkin is planning to join the Virginia governor’s race as a Republican candidate and expected to make an official announcement soon, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
Youngkin, 54, would be the third GOP candidate to declare for the 2021 election and the only conservative hopeful with no experience running for or holding elected office.
“Virginians are tired of the political games they’ve seen on the right and the left over the last few years,” Garrison Coward, Youngkin’s campaign manager, told The Post. “The political insiders have been smothering Virginians’ best interests with their special interests. Glenn is a breath of fresh air that will bring conservative solutions to everyday problems.”
The Virginia Star made multiple attempts to reach the campaign to discuss Youngkin’s entrance into the race, but did not get a response before press time.
According to the State Corporation Commission, a business entity named “Youngkin for Governor, Inc” was registered with the agency on Monday, another sign that Youngkin is intending to run for the Executive Mansion.
Youngkin was the co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm that focuses on corporate private equity, real assets, global credit and investment solutions, and worked at the company for 25 years before stepping down in July and then formally retiring in September.
“As the world continues to face so many challenges today, and as Carlyle is well-positioned, now is a natural point to focus my full-time efforts on community and public service efforts that I believe can make a meaningful impact,” Youngkin said in a release when his retirement was made public.
As part of those community-focused efforts Youngkin helped launch the Virginia Ready Initiative, a nonprofit organization that works with prominent businesses and community colleges to get unemployed Virginians impacted by COVID-19 the necessary training and education for jobs in high-demand fields.
In his extensive business career, Youngkin has amassed a net worth estimated to be at least $245 million, so raising money for a gubernatorial campaign will be no problem whatsoever.
Youngkin lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Suzanne, and their four children. He graduated from Rice University before moving on to Harvard Business School where he received a master’s degree, according to his bio.
On Tuesday, the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) issued a statement on Youngkin’s reported plans to fight for a party nomination.
“Glenn Youngkin’s entrance to the Virginia governor’s race ensures the GOP convention will be a brutal competition to scrape together the most delegates and prove who is the most conservative,” said DGA Executive Director Noam Lee.
Youngkin will be up against Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) and former Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) in the fight for the Republican nomination.
When asked for comment on Youngkin, Chase said that he should save his money, while a press secretary for the Cox campaign said they are waiting to comment until Youngkin officially enters the race.
This year the GOP nominee for governor will be determined through a party convention after the Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee chose that method in December instead of a primary election. However, the nominating process could revert back to a primary since the committee is expected to take another vote on the matter this Saturday.
On the Democrat side is former governor Terry McAuliffe, Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond City), Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, Del. Lee Carter (D-Manassas) and former delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy – who stepped down from the House in December to focus on the gubernatorial race.
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Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Fox Business. Background Photo “Virginia State Capitol” by Ron Cogswell. CC BY 2.0.
