Here we go again. I understand this election in particular, is very important for both parties. It could keep Democrats in power in Virginia, and it could also mean a chance for the Republicans to reclaim the state because right now President Biden’s popularity is waning. This is the information I get from watching CBS, NBC and ABC News. I also get my information from the Richmond Times Dispatch, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and the NY Times, (yes I read them all three times a week)
There is Terry McAuliffe. Democrat. He was governor from 2014 – 2018. I like some of the issues he presents such as is stance on education, previously putting billions into the education system and more recently fighting to keep the book, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, from being banned. He is a Catholic who believes in pro-choice, as I am. When governor, there was a large budget deficit and when he left office there was over a 100 million surplus in the budget! The problem I have is that there is no new blood in the Democratic party and the fact that the party has been very lenient on releasing dangerous prisoners, that in my eyes should never even been brought up for parole.
There is also Glenn Youngkin, Republican. I do like that he is tougher on crime. He is a confusing candidate in that he appreciates Trumps endorsement and yet he is trying to distance himself from Trump. He did not attend a rally Trump hosted for Virginia governor, and he believes that the presidential election was won by President Biden. When he was told that the American flag used during one of Trumps rallies was one of the flags used during the January 6 insurrection, he said it was “wrong and bizarre.” He is also for banning abortion, which I am not.
In the long run, being a registered Independent, I will vote for McAuliffe. There are alternates running for governor that I will not address as I feel my vote would be wasted. As an Independent, I did vote for an Independent one year for president and that year I felt I wasted my vote. The Wall Street Journal had an opinion piece that I thought was interesting. It stated that Youngkin could lose votes because voters were still mad at Trump and could take it out on Youngkin, which I believe is true for me.
I had googled McAuliffe’s campaign and was able to see right away what his campaign promises were. I then googled Youngkin campaign and was not able to see his promises without being directed to a Republican website and being asked to support him both with voting and financially. This I did not like.
In the end I feel that as long as Donald Trump has such a strong hold on the Republican party I don’t see myself voting for a Republican no matter how much I like them.