Virginia governor race Glenn Youngkin defeats Terry McAuliffe signals Biden weakness

Republican Glenn Youngkin defeats former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia governor's race, a state Biden won by 10 points one year earlier, in the first major electoral test of the Biden presidency. Youngkin runs on parent's rights and opposition to critical race theory in schools without directly embracing Trump. McAuliffe's campaign is hamstrung by Biden's low approval ratings (43%) tied to the Afghanistan withdrawal, inflation, and the stalled Build Back Better legislation. The result is widely read as a warning sign for 2022 midterms and crystallizes the political backlash brewing against Biden.