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Virginia businessman Glenn Youngkin has won the Republican nomination for governor after six rounds of counting ballots cast at Saturday’s drive-through unassembled convention.
I am prepared to lead, excited to serve and profoundly humbled by the trust the people have placed in me. Virginians have made it clear that they are ready for a political outsider with proven business experience to bring real change in Richmond.
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 11, 2021
Youngkin received 54.71% of the votes, according to tracking by the Virginia Public Access Project. Another businessman, Pete Snyder, was second at 45.29%.
In all, seven GOP candidates were vying for the nomination. Under the GOP’s ranked-choice voting rules, candidates were eliminated based on votes, with those ballots reviewed to determine which candidate ranked second, and those votes were reallocated.
Youngkin, a former CEO of The Carlyle Group investment firm, is making his first run for public office. According to data from the Virginia Public Access Project, he lent his campaign more than $5 million and spent more than any other candidate through March 31. He campaigned as a “conservative Christian outsider” and highlighted his business experience.
Democrats will choose their nominee next month in a state-run primary. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe is the front-runner in a field of five candidates.
Virginia bars incumbent governors from seeking reelection, so Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam is barred from seeking a second term this year.
