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Not a totally convincing denial, Glenn! Anti-woke Virginia GOP governor says he’s focused on his state ‘right now’ when asked about claims he’s plotting 2024 White House run

  • Glenn Youngkin, 56, was elected governor of Virginia in November 2021, campaigning on an ‘anti-woke’ platform and treading a fine line with Trump
  • Youngkin carefully cultivated MAGA support, while keeping never-Trump Republicans on side, which has seen him win praise as future star 
  • On Thursday, Youngkin spoke to Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, who asked him about a possible 2024 run
  • Youngkin replied diplomatically that he was focused on Virginia ‘for now’ – but his reply is certain to be of interest to rivals including Trump and Ron DeSantis 

Virginia’s governor has refused to rule out a run for the White House in 2024, insisting that his focus ‘right now’ is on his state but admitting he is honored to be seen as a contender.

Glenn Youngkin, a 56-year-old private equity executive with a $300 million fortune, was elected last year and took office in January.

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Youngkin’s campaign focused on combatting ‘woke’ policies, with a strong emphasis on culture wars. He tread a delicate line, keeping Donald Trump‘s supporters on side while managing to win the backing of mainstream Republicans – and as a result, he is being eyed as a rising star.

On Thursday, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asked Youngkin about a potential presidential bid, and Youngkin said he was flattered to be in contention.

‘Right now the possibility of me focusing on Virginia and delivering as a governor is 100 per cent,’ he said.

Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia, was asked on Thursday about a possible 2024 bid, and refused to rule it out

Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia, was asked on Thursday about a possible 2024 bid, and refused to rule it out

Youngkin spoke to Fox's Martha MacCallum on Thursday about his first year in office

Youngkin spoke to Fox’s Martha MacCallum on Thursday about his first year in office

‘That’s where my attention is. And I think that’s what Virginians expect from me. They elected me to lead change. They elected me to lead Virginia forward. And that’s what we’re doing.’

Youngkin will be out of a job in 2026 – Virginia only allows their governors to serve a single four-year term – which has only served to heighten expectations.

He said that he was surprised by the prospect.

‘Two years ago, I was a private citizen who had just left my dream job,’ he said.

‘Forty years ago, I was washing dishes and taking out trash as a kid who needed a job. And to even have my name surfaced is so humbling.’

Donald Trump has already announced his intention to reclaim the White House, and other likely contenders include Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis, former vice president Mike Pence, and Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State.

Donald Trump declared in November that he was running for re-election in 2024, and Youngkin admitted Trump retains a strong influence over the Republican party

Donald Trump declared in November that he was running for re-election in 2024, and Youngkin admitted Trump retains a strong influence over the Republican party

Youngkin, who was endorsed by Trump, but who deftly managed to avoid associating with him too closely, said that Trump still has a ‘great influence’ on the Republican party, but was not alone in wielding power.

‘I think part of the process over the next couple of years is to sort through that,’ he said.

‘My job today is to deliver for Virginians, and I think the big message for all Republican candidates is to deliver results.’

He said he was disappointed in the results of the midterms – which saw many of the Trump-backed candidates lose – but was positive about the future.

Youngkin said the election showed that voters statewide and nationwide want to ‘look forward, not backward’.

He insisted Republican governors who were ‘delivering extraordinary results’ were rewarded by voters.

Youngkin scored his own victory last week with the superintendent of Loudoun County Schools District being fired, and then charged with covering up a scandal involving sexual assault in schools.

Loudoun County has become the epicenter of protests by parents against ‘woke’ school policies, and Youngkin campaigned on the promise that he would make the entire school board resign and seek re-election.

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