(USNewsMag.com) – Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, 56, officially ruled out running for the 2024 Republican nomination for president May 1.
Gerard Baker, Wall Street Journal editor-at-large, asked Youngkin if he would be launching a campaign for president. Youngkin responded to the question, “no.” He also stated that this year he would be representing Virginia. He said he would be working in Virginia, concentrating on the legislative elections to help Republicans hold the majority in the Virginia House and to regain control of the Virginia Senate.
Youngkin spoke with Baker at Milken Institute in Beverly Hills, California, where Youngkin was participating in a talk as part of the Global Conference. Before his arrival in California, Youngkin had traveled to South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
On May 1, he also spoke about the future of the Republican Party at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library which is located in Simi Valley. His speech was part of the library’s speaker series called a “Time for Choosing,” which was launched in 2021. The series focus is on the future of the Republican Party. The library will be the site of the second Republican presidential primary debate.
Youngkin was first elected as governor of Virginia in 2021. Youngkin, a first time candidate, became the first Republican governor in more than 12 years when he beat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who was the former chair of the Democratic National Committee. Youngkin focused his campaign on parents rights in schools. Youngkin’s victory in a state President Joe Biden won in 2020 was seen as a path forward for Republicans. Once a swing state, Virginia has trended more Democrat in the last decade.
Speculation for a run for president began in July 2022, when during an interview Youngkin did not say he would not be running when asked. During the interview he also did not deny that Republican donors had approached him about running in 2024.
Copyright 2023, USNewsMag.com
