They were almost certainly the tipping point. Telling parents they shouldn’t have a say in what their kids are learning was a bold (and stupid) move.
Critical Race Theory has been a touch point, and even though it is not in the VA curriculum what parents wanted to hear was that their voices in their schools mattered. Republicans gave them confidence that voice.
Another… interesting point is certain elements crying racism while the electorate vote in Lt. Governor Winsome Sears, a Jamaican immigrant, female, USMC Veteran, who happens to be so staunchly pro-2A that she used her personal AR-15 in her campaign photos.
From REASON,
Glenn Youngkin Defeated Terry McAuliffe Because Democrats Betrayed Parents
From COVID-19 closures to critical race theory, Republicans can fix schools by giving families more choice.
While former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s loss to Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin was cemented very late on election night, in practice the day that he forfeited the gubernatorial race was September 28. That was when, during a debate with Youngkin, McAuliffe, a Democrat, made the statement that “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”
That was his response to questions about school curriculum and the fury that had taken hold at many local school board meetings, where irate parents assailed education leaders for allegedly supporting what has been termed “critical race theory” by right-wing activists who oppose it. CRT is a divisive concept, in part because progressives and conservative disagree sharply about what it even is. Many members of the liberal media don’t even believe it exists, and have accused the GOP of fabricating the issue. As Youngkin’s victory became apparent, MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace lamented that critical race theory, “which isn’t even real,” had swung the suburbs 15 points in Republicans’ favor.
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