Republicans in Virginia are in disarray following a Democratic takeover of the House of Delegates in this week’s elections. A group of angry Republican legislators is planning to challenge House Speaker Todd Gilbert following Governor Glenn Youngkin’s focus on spotlighting a 15-week abortion ban ahead of the elections. They are saying the strategy cost the GOP control of the house.
The move by this group indicates that there has been disapproval of Governor Youngkin’s decision to focus on the abortion ban. The group accused House Speaker Todd Gilbert for not pushing back against the strategy. At a closed meeting in Richmond on Sunday, House Republicans plan to elect their caucus leadership. Gilbert was in line to become minority leader given his party’s loss of the majority, but some Republican delegates want to remove Gilbert from leadership.
The infighting within the Virginia GOP reflects possible trouble for Governor Youngkin as he faces a General Assembly controlled by Democrats. The strategy employed by Youngkin is being questioned by some Republicans who say it should be the economy, schools, and crime that should take priority. Nevertheless, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel claimed that the party did not put enough emphasis on abortion and blamed the party for their losses.