Scoop: Trump hosting surprise tele-rally to juice Virginia turnout
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
President Trump and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) plan to host a tele-rally Thursday evening aimed at energizing Republican voters ahead of Tuesday's statewide elections.
Why it matters: Republicans know they need to counter the energy – and anger – on the Democratic side if they to want win the attorney general's race, their best statewide shot in the off-year election.
- Polls show Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) leading former state Rep. Jay Jones (D), who apologized earlier in the month for texts promoting violence in 2022.
- The Miyares campaign isn't letting voters forget about it.
- But Republicans worry that a Democratic landslide in the governor's race — where former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) leads Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the polls — could drag down GOP candidates across the ballot.
Flashback: Trump called into a similar tele-rally for Youngkin in 2021, when the governor pulled off an upset win over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).
Zoom out: Virginia and New Jersey are the only states holding statewide elections this year that don't coincide with federal races.
- In New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli is running neck-and-neck with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.)in the governor's race — fueling GOP hopes for another blue-state upset.
- In Virginia, Spanberger leads by double digits in some polls, but Miyares has edged ahead of Jones.
- The Republican Governors Association poured $4 million into the race this week, helping Earle-Sears outspend Spanberger on TV in the final stretch.
Zoom in: Mid-cycle redistricting has made a surprise appearance in Virginia's elections.
- Democrats in the legislature are pushing a constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade redrawing of the state's maps — a move that could net them two or three more congressional seats.
- Miyares is fighting the effort in court, arguing it's too late in the cycle.
- Both parties expect Democrats to retain control of the legislature.
The bottom line: Trump gave Miyares his "Complete and Total Endorsement" on Oct. 5 but has been notably cooler toward Earle-Sears, offering only his "strong support" on Oct. 20.
- Thursday's event will give him a chance to stump for them both.
