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Virginia began a new chapter Saturday with the inauguration of Glenn Youngkin, the first Republican governor to take the oath of office in 12 years.\u00a0In his inauguration speech, Youngkin promised a change in direction in the state, with shifts on COVID-19 policies, education, criminal justice and taxes.<\/p>\n
Youngkin was sworn in as the commonwealth\u2019s 74th governor on the steps of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond before a cheering crowd estimated to be 6,000 deep.<\/p>\n
Youngkin, a former private equity executive and newcomer to politics, wasted no time in signing 11 executive orders and actions within hours of his inauguration. He says they include lifting the mask mandate for Virginia schools, ending the vaccine mandate for state employees and ending the use of \u201cdivisive concepts\u201d in schools such as critical race theory, which is not part of the curriculum.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s full 2022 inauguration speech.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares each made history with their inaugurations; Sears is the first woman of color to serve in a statewide office, and Miyares is the first Latino to serve in his role.<\/p>\n
As Virginia’s top three offices changed hands from Democrats to Republicans, Youngkin said he was filled with an unbridled sense of optimism. He praised Virginia’s essential workers and then laid out his priorities for the next four years.<\/p>\n
His opening words were interrupted on cue by a roaring flyover, after which he said, “We celebrate the sound of freedom.”<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s Day One. Let’s get to work,” Youngkin said. <\/p>\n
A traditional inaugural parade kicked off after the ceremony and inaugural speech. Participants included members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia university and high school students, NASA representatives and law enforcement officers, Youngkin’s transition team said. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what to know about Youngkin\u2019s promises on Inauguration Day, plus his plans and policies for his term.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Newly inaugurated Gov. Youngkin said he signed 11 executive orders and actions shortly after his inauguration, covering top priorities in schools and more.<\/p>\n
The orders were not immediately made available in full. Youngkin’s team summarized them in a statement as follows: <\/p>\n
Youngkin also said he signed two executive directives: one to slash regulations on businesses, and another to rescind the vaccine mandate for state employees.<\/p>\n
Youngkin has said he wants to be known as \u201cThe Education Governor.\u201d His plan for Day One included banning critical race theory, though it\u2019s not part of any public school curriculum; \u201ckeeping schools open safely five days a week;\u201d raising teacher pay; investing in special education and creating a least 20 new charter schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The inauguration crowd cheered loudly as Youngkin said he would remove politics from the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will teach all of our history \u2014 the good and the bad,\u201d Youngkin said to cheers.<\/p>\n
He has said he will respect teachers’ beliefs about LGBTQ issues, as well as require schools to have school resource officers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVirginia\u2019s next administration is taking shape with Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announcing his pick for education secretary. Aimee Guidera had a child in Fairfax County Public Schools and has an extensive background in education advocacy and policy. Northern Virginia Bureau Reporter Drew Wilder reports one of the groups she founded also stresses the importance of understanding how race impacts a child\u2019s education.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Youngkin\u2019s Day One plan included eliminating the state\u2019s grocery tax, requiring voter approval for property taxes and temporarily suspending an increase to the gas tax. Tax changes will need legislative approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Youngkin said his administration wants to create 400,000 jobs and 10,000 new startups during his tenure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to make Virginia competitive again, no longer conceding corporate relocations and expansions to our friends in Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his inauguration speech, Youngkin praised vaccines and \u201cthe miracle of modern medicine\u201d but reiterated that his COVID-19 plan will prioritize individuals’ freedom.<\/p>\n
Youngkin said he will lift the state\u2019s school mask mandate and change other COVID-19 policies after taking office<\/a>. The change in direction is expected amid what the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association called the fifth surge of the pandemic.<\/p>\n Youngkin said in an interview Wednesday that Virginia would no longer require children to wear masks in schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJulie Carey reports on what the governor-elect hopes to get done on day one and in the years ahead.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna rescind the mandate that requires K-12 children to wear a mask to school, and we\u2019ve been quite clear about that,\u201d he told WTKR-TV in Norfolk<\/a>, repeating a point he made while campaigning.\u00a0<\/p>\n School districts will be able to keep mask recommendations in place, but parents can choose not to follow them, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The way that Virginia works is that the governor cannot ban mask mandates. Schools make those decisions,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will in fact, then, also make sure that schools allow parents to exercise their rights for what\u2019s best for their children, to opt-out of those mandates.”<\/p>\n Youngkin\u2019s office did not respond to an inquiry about what he would tell parents who fear the policy change will spread the virus.\u00a0<\/p>\n At least two school systems in Northern Virginia, those in Arlington and Fairfax counties, have reiterated their intention to enforce a mask requirement.<\/p>\n The incoming governor has promised a new approach to the pandemic. He has encouraged vaccination but opposed vaccine and mask mandates, emphasizing personal choice. Go here to see more reporting on his positions and plans on COVID<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Youngkin may usher in dramatic changes on criminal justice. He and incoming Attorney General Jason Miyares have adopted a \u201ctough on crime\u201d stance. The governor\u2019s Day One plan on criminal justice included \u201ckeeping violent criminals off our streets,” protecting qualified immunity for officers and firing the parole board.<\/p>\n Youngkin pledged to \u201crestore safety\u201d by fully funding law enforcement, boosting spending for higher salaries, better training and more equipment. He also said his administration would push to invest in community policing programs.<\/p>\n Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth said he expected \u201can absolute sea change\u201d on criminal justice in Virginia, comparing Northam and former Attorney General Mark Herring\u2019s objectives to those of Youngkin and Miyares.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVirginia\u2019s Democratic attorney general is leaving office in two days, but he\u2019s taking a final, dramatic action he hopes will send a message about the commonwealth\u2019s need to confront racist policies of the past. Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey explains.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Youngkin is expected to tighten restrictions on abortion, although he did not speak about it on Saturday. He has called himself \u201cpro-life\u201d and indicated support for restricting the procedure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to Washington Post fact checkers<\/a>.<\/p>\n His campaign website touted an endorsement by the anti-abortion rights group National Right to Life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Holsworth said he expected to see Youngkin pursue abortion restrictions but face a challenge by the state Senate, which Democrats hold. Abortion will be \u201cfront and center\u201d in Virginia, Holsworth said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr. Jatia Wrighten, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, said she expected to see a major change in the tone of state politics and messages coming out of the state capitol, with less emphasis on diversity and equity. She said she was discouraged to see state Republicans withhold applause this week as outgoing Gov. Ralph Northam spoke about measures to increase voter access.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Youngkin addressed Virginians for the first time as governor, he decried a rise in divisiveness and distrust of public figures.<\/p>\n “Our politics have become too toxic. Sound bites have replaced solutions, taking precedence over good-faith problem-solving,” Youngkin said.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorthern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports on the opening session of Virginia’s General Assembly.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n During his campaign, Youngkin, a Republican business executive new to elected office, distanced himself from former President Donald Trump while still courting Trump supporters. He didn\u2019t release detailed policy platforms like some candidates for elected office do.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt this point, we don\u2019t know much about Youngkin generally,\u201d Wrighten said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Youngkin will establish his political identity, Holsworth said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of governor is he going to be? Is he going to be Ron DeSantis or Larry Hogan? So far, he\u2019s said he\u2019s going to be a mix,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Holsworth pointed to Youngkin\u2019s plan to lift the school mask mandate and asked whether he would go as far as to threaten to withhold state funding from school districts that require masks, as DeSantis, Florida\u2019s governor, did last year.<\/p>\n The strength of Youngkin\u2019s mandate from voters is uncertain after he won the governorship by less than 2 points. Nearly half of the state\u2019s voters in November chose Democrat Terry McAuliffe instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Youngkin faces a split legislature. Republicans gained control of the House of Delegates, but Democrats retained control of the state Senate, with a slim 21-19 majority. Sears, the lieutenant governor, will preside over the Senate and cast tie-breaking votes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Youngkin and Virginia\u2019s GOP will have to compromise with Democrats on some issues, Holsworth said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s clear and reasonable for Republicans to be excited, but their success is going to be dependent on where they can build some alliances,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, State Republicans including Tim Parrish, chairman of the Prince William County Republicans, are thrilled by the prospect of what lies ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe governor had this mantra; he said he was going to make the commonwealth the very best place to live, work and raise a family. So I have this great, profound sense of hope that we are moving in that direction,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Youngkin, who emphasized his outsider status and Virginia roots during his run, planned a mix of high-dollar, exclusive events and public events. The inaugural weekend theme is \u201cStrengthen the Spirit of Virginia Together.\u201d<\/p>\n The first of Youngkin’s inaugural weekend events got underway Friday morning, when the governor-elect participated in a service event with local officials, helping landscape an area along the Richmond Slave Trail, a tribute to the critical role the city played in the domestic slave trade.<\/p>\n Shortly before the inauguration began Saturday, Virginia\u2019s former governors met with Youngkin and outgoing Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam inside the Capitol. Every living governor but Youngkin\u2019s opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, was in attendance. McAuliffe tweeted that he and his wife were \u201cquarantining due to a close COVID contact in the interest of health and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n The Youngkins and Northams also participated in a cordial key-exchange ceremony. Northam offered Youngkin his well wishes.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorthern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey talks with Virginia’s Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nGovernor Youngkin\u2019s Plan for Criminal Justice\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Governor Youngkin\u2019s Plan for Abortion\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Tone of State Politics\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Who Is Glenn Youngkin?\u00a0<\/h2>\n
How Much Support or Opposition Is Youngkin Expected to Face?\u00a0<\/h2>\n
What Other Inauguration Events Are Planned for Youngkin?<\/h2>\n
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