#Glenn Youngkin shows Republicans the way to win

Pity your liberal co-workers today, rocking themselves calm in the corner after one of their safe spaces was taken away. Yes, Republican Glenn Youngkin has defeated Terry McAuliffe for governor of Virginia, the latest blow to a terrible presidency.

For a state that went for Joe Biden by 10 points to flip parties just one year later augers horribly for the Democrats’ chances in 2022. Not that having the House and Senate in Democratic hands has mattered. Biden’s legislative agenda is in tatters, his foreign policy deadly, his mind somewhere else. He’s a lame duck in his first year.

For Republicans, meanwhile, Youngkin just drew up a blueprint for a path back to power:

Culture matters. Progressives are dragging Democrats to the left, the unpopularity of their positions be damned. “Defund the police” hurt them in 2020 and likely helped elect Eric Adams as mayor of New York.

Now it’s critical race theory, which aims to divide children and teach them that their ethnicity is the most important thing about them. Democrats and officials flat-out lie that CRT isn’t the basis of new initiatives, but moms and dads see through the charade. When McAuliffe said parents shouldn’t have a say in their child’s education, the race was lost.

Republicans running in 2022 should make Democrats own their positions and defend them. Liberals are trying to hide what they’re really trying to do to America — because they know Americans won’t have it.

Issues matter. McAuliffe wanted to make the election all about Donald Trump, even lying that Youngkin and Trump had a campaign rally together (they hadn’t). In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy tried to act like he was running against Trump rather than his real opponent, Jack Ciattarelli. That’s all they have. The Democrats just keep re-litigating Jan. 6 and the former president.

Voters. Don’t. Care. They want to make sure inflation is curbed and groceries and gas don’t bankrupt them. They want to make sure our children are safe and learning. They want common sense as we come out of the pandemic.

The future matters. And by that token, Trump’s constant harping about the 2020 election is bunk. Biden won. The only way GOP candidates save Democrats from their monomania is to buy into Trump’s own re-litigation of the past.

Youngkin showed how it can be done. He welcomed Trump’s support but didn’t back the “Stop the Steal” baloney. Youngkin ran a campaign about Virginia and people’s lives, not Arizona audits. He wanted people to get out and vote. And he made McAuliffe look like the one who was obsessed.

So congratulations to Glenn Youngkin, not only for winning Virginia but for showing a way forward. We’re not saying every GOP candidate should get a fleece vest — but hey, couldn’t hurt.