Richmond, VA — This week, it was announced that Glenn Youngkin and the statewide GOP ticket will be headlining an “election integrity rally” hosted by a Republican official who was at the January 6th insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.
As has been reported, Youngkin refuses to condemn the disgraced former president for his role on Jan. 6th. He also launched his campaign on Donald Trump’s election lies and spent months refusing to say that Joe Biden was legitimately elected. Now, Youngkin is rallying with extreme Republicans like Bob Good as he continues to push hardline voting rights restrictions.
See below for a recap of coverage on Youngkin’s latest foray into Trumpian extremism.
The Washington Post: Youngkin to participate in ‘election integrity’ rally at Liberty University
GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin is scheduled to appear at a two-day "election integrity" rally early next month, a move that elections analysts say could hurt the political newcomer among suburban swing voters who will be crucial to victory in the fall.
Youngkin made the issue the centerpiece of his campaign as he pursued the GOP nomination this year, hoping to court Republicans who agreed with former president Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that Democrats stole the 2020 election. [...]
Youngkin and the rest of the GOP’s statewide ticket are scheduled to headline an Aug. 7 banquet on the closing night of a rally at Liberty University organized by a regional GOP chairman who was outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection but says he did not enter the building. [...]
A former Republican congressman derided the event as “conspiracy-palooza,” while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe called on Youngkin to withdraw from it and denounce Trump’s unfounded claim that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election.
“I call on you to immediately withdraw from this ‘election integrity’ rally and disavow this dangerous, deadly conspiracy theory once and for all,” McAuliffe, a former governor seeking a comeback, said in a statement Tuesday. [...]
By appearing at the rally and seeming to once again elevate “election integrity” to a marquee issue, Youngkin risks alienating the swing voters who largely abandoned the GOP while Trump was in the White House, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran Richmond political analyst. [...]
Del. John J. McGuire III (R-Goochland), a prominent surrogate for Youngkin who often introduces him at events, defended “election integrity” as an important issue.
McGuire — who also acknowledged publicly for the first time in an interview Tuesday that he had attended the Jan. 6 rally, but did not enter the building — noted that many polling places showed Trump up early in the evening before abruptly shifting for Biden. “Republicans were leading everywhere, and then all of sudden, [Democrats] were way ahead,” he said.
ABC News: McAuliffe calls on Youngkin to cancel appearance at local GOP's rally billed around 'election integrity'
Virginia gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe called on his GOP opponent Glenn Youngkin to cancel his appearance at and denounce what the 5th Congressional District Republican Party is calling an "election integrity regional rally," which coincides with the anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act first being signed into law.
Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, called on the 5th District Republicans to cancel the event altogether.
"We all know what Glenn Youngkin and Republicans mean when they talk about election integrity. They're following Donald Trump's lie that the 2020 election was stolen and pushing restricting measures that make it harder for folks to exercise their fundamental right to vote," Swecker said in a virtual press conference Tuesday. "Here in Virginia, we fought hard to protect and expand the sacred right to vote, and we're not about to let Glenn Youngkin drag us backwards." [...]
McAuliffe, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam's predecessor who's vying for his old job, blasted the rally as being "inspired by Donald Trump's conspiracy theory that led to a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol."
"Glenn - enough is enough. I call on you to immediately withdraw from this 'election integrity' rally and disavow this dangerous, deadly conspiracy theory once and for all. Virginians deserve a leader who will tell the truth, act with integrity, and respect the office they seek to hold," McAuliffe said in a statement Tuesday. "Glenn has shown, yet again, that he is no such leader. ... If Glenn has any respect for the truth or Virginians, he will drop out of this event immediately." [...]
McAuliffe also accused Youngkin of spending "months denying that Joe Biden was duly elected president." Since winning the nomination, Youngkin has repeatedly said Biden was legitimately elected, according to a fact check done by the Poynter Institute's PolitiFact. However, the fact check also found that pre-nomination, multiple media outlets reported that Youngkin or his campaign either did not respond to questions about whether Biden was "legitimately elected" or declined to answer.
The Hill: McAuliffe calls on Youngkin to drop out of 'election integrity' rally
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday called on GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin to drop out of an event billed as an "election integrity" rally he was slated to attend later this month.
"Glenn, enough is enough. I call on you to immediately withdraw from this ‘election integrity’ rally and disavow this dangerous, deadly conspiracy theory once and for all," McAuliffe said in a statement first obtained by The Hill.
"Virginians deserve a leader who will tell the truth, act with integrity, and respect the office they seek to hold. Glenn has shown, yet again, that he is no such leader," the former Virginia governor continued. "When given the opportunity to choose Virginians or Donald Trump, Glenn chooses Trump every time. If Glenn has any respect for the truth or Virginians, he will drop out of this event immediately."
WDBJ: Republican event draws Democratic criticism
A political event next month in Lynchburg is the latest flashpoint in the Virginia Governor’s Race.
On Tuesday, Democratic leaders criticized Republican Glenn Youngkin for agreeing to take part in an Election Integrity Rally, organized by the 5th District Republican Committee. [...]
“They’re following Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen,” Swecker told reporters Tuesday afternoon, “and pushing restrictive measures that make it harder for folks to exercise their fundamental right to vote.” [...]
In an interview, Democrat Terry McAuliffe called on Youngkin to cancel his participation in the event.
“We do not have voter fraud here in Virginia. And nobody alleges that we do,” McAuliffe said. “You know we are now the model. We now have 45-day early vote. We now have no excuse absentee balloting. We should be encouraging more people to vote.”
Virginia Scope: McAuliffe and Ayala call on their Republican opponents to drop out of election integrity rally
The GOP committee from Virginia’s fifth congressional district recently announced that they are holding an election integrity rally next month. Keynote speakers for the event include Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, lieutenant governor candidate Winsome Sears, and attorney general candidate Jason Miyares.
[...] The schedule appears to make the event look like a training program for Republican activists and volunteers. But the title goes along with the theme being pushed by former President Donald Trump in an effort to cast doubt on the 2020 presidential results.
Democratic statewide candidates are now calling for the Republican nominees to drop out of that event.
Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee released a statement Tuesday morning calling on Youngkin to drop out of the event. “Next week, Glenn Youngkin will headline a rally inspired by Donald Trump’s conspiracy theory that led to a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol,” McAuliffe said in the statement. “Glenn Youngkin has focused his entire candidacy on divisive conspiracy theories, peddling Donald Trump’s lies, and trying to hide his out-of-touch views from Virginians. He launched his campaign on his ‘election integrity’ plan, calling it ‘the most important issue.’ He spent months denying that Joe Biden was duly elected president. He has repeatedly praised Donald Trump, saying Trump ‘represents so much of why’ he’s running. This is who Glenn Youngkin really is.”
Augusta Free Press: McAuliffe pushes Youngkin to drop out of ‘election integrity’ event
The side that still thinks Donald Trump won the 2020 election is inviting people to an “election integrity” rally next week, and among the featured guests is Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin.
Here’s where you remember who Trump really, really, really wants to see win in November.
“Glenn Youngkin has focused his entire candidacy on divisive conspiracy theories, peddling Donald Trump’s lies, and trying to hide his out-of-touch views from Virginians,” Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe said in a statement Tuesday. “He launched his campaign on his ‘election integrity’ plan, calling it ‘the most important issue.’ He spent months denying that Joe Biden was duly elected president. He has repeatedly praised Donald Trump, saying Trump ‘represents so much of why’ he’s running. This is who Glenn Youngkin really is.”
On Twitter
Terry McAuliffe: Next week, Glenn Youngkin will headline an “election integrity” rally inspired by Trump's conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
Glenn, enough is enough. Stop embarrassing Virginia and stop promoting Trump’s dangerous lies. Withdraw from this event.
Ralph Northam: I am joining my friend, @TerryMcAuliffe, in calling on @GlennYoungkin to pull out of this "election integrity" rally. We have been running elections in Virginia for a long time and don't need Trump Republicans to tell us what to do.
Hala Ayala: It’s hard to think of anything as irresponsible as using fear and misinformation as a fundraising opportunity. Yet, my opponent is headlining an event peddling Trump's election conspiracies. Anyone who attempts to undermine faith in our democracy has no place leading it.
Mark Herring: Jason Miyares is beholden to the values and policies of Donald Trump and spreading his Big Lie.
I am calling on him to step down from the “Election Integrity” event and denounce spreading dangerous conspiracy theories that led to the deadly insurrection on January 6th.
Schuyler VanValkenburg: Multiple GOP legislators sent Mike Pence a letter asking him to reject VA’s electors.
Multiple GOP legislators were at the Capitol on Jan 6 or went to/hosted stop the steal rallies.
Youngkin said dominion voting machines were most important issue of 2021 campaign.
Now this.
Democratic Governors Association: Glenn Youngkin is scheduled to speak at a so-called “election integrity” rally — proving once again that he'd rather stand with Trump's lies than Virginians.
Glenn must immediately drop out of the rally and renounce these dangerous conspiracy theories.
###