Virginia Democrats see potential Republican governor as a threat to public schools

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Virginia Democrats see Republican Governor as a threat to public schools

Arlington, Va. – Days before the Virginia gubernatorial election, supporters of Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe gathered at a canvassing event and sounded off on the dangers posed to education if Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin wins the governorship. 

"I think students will fall behind," Aiden, a supporter of McAuliffe, told Fox News.

"It's definitely a big threat," another supporter named Niko remarked.

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In a recent debate, McAuliffe said "I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."

One man felt Youngkin's policies were derived in "talking about critical race theory and vaccine mandates," and that they're "meant to divide us and politicize education."

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Elizabeth, a Virginia resident, called a possible Youngkin governorship "a regression." 

"You've got mask mandates and vaccines and we all know that if we get a Youngkin governorship that's not going to happen," Elizabeth explained.

Glenn Youngkin, Alexandria, Va., Oct. 30, 2021 (Caitlin McFall, Fox News)

Hala Ayala, who is running for lieutenant governor on the same ballot as McAuliffe, told Fox News she "absolutely' thinks Youngkin's education policies could be dangerous to Virginia. 

Hala Ayala, who is running for Lieutenant Governor on the same ballot as McAuliffe, spoke at canvassing event. (Fox)

"We see what he wants to do with defunding public schools and how he wants to allocate money to his charter schools," Ayala said. 

The topic of funding charter schools was an issue that loomed large among McAuliffe supporters. 

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"From what I have gathered about Glenn Youngkin he is in favor of funding private schools, making sure that the elite schools get better," Aiden told Fox News.

However, other hot topics in education such as critical race theory also influenced how voters viewed Youngkin.

A woman sits with her sign during a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board meeting in Ashburn, Virginia on October 12, 2021. - Loudoun county school board meetings have become tense recently with parents clashing with board members over transgender issues, the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) and Covid-19 mandates. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

"In terms of education I think Youngkin has focused on niche issues like critical race theory. He's using buzzwords to scare people that are not informed on issues," a McAuliffe supporter told Fox News.

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Elizabeth said: "we always hear this B.S. about critical race theory being taken out of schools. It's not currently in our schools, but we do need to talk about the actual history of Virginia and the country."

"If we have a Youngkin governorship that conversation that needs to happen with high schoolers and middle schoolers, to an extent, is not going to happen," she continued.

The election date is set for Nov. 2.