Republicans in Virginia Are Confident They Can Break a Decade-Long Political Curse

Virginia’s gubernatorial races are seen as key indicators of voter sentiment. After Trump made gains in the state, Republicans are hoping to build on the momentum.

Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears
Steve Helber/AP

Republicans are confident they’ll be able to keep Donald Trump’s momentum in Virginia as they look ahead to their 2025 elections, which includes the high-profile gubernatorial race that usually breaks for the party that doesn’t hold the White House.

Trump lost the state in this year’s presidential election. But he was able to narrow his loss in Virginia to only 4 percentage points, and most counties in Virginia saw a shift toward the Republican base this campaign cycle.

What happened in Virginia did not happen in a vacuum — Republicans similarly swept across the country, taking control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. But the results have Republicans feeling bullish that they’ll be able to build upon the enthusiasm from this cycle as they begin laying the groundwork for next year’s races.