RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said he is disappointed after Democrats swept Tuesday's legislative elections, retaking full control of the General Assembly.
"I'm a little disappointed to be clear and I think that's just a natural reality," he told reporters Wednesday afternoon.
The electoral results were a rebuke of Youngkin's conservative agenda which includes a proposal to ban access to most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
"Democrats bet on reproductive rights and that resonated with women and voters overall, therefore they were able to win," former Virginia Republican delegate David Ramadan told WUSA9.
Youngkin called on lawmakers to work beyond party lines on abortion calling it one of the most difficult topics in Virginia and the nation.
"My hope is, continues to be, that we can come together as Virginians and lead. I do believe there is a place we can come together, common ground. This is difficult," he said.
Newly elected state Senator Scott Surovell, who serves as the Democratic Caucasus Vice Chair, says the divided government will bring balance and moderation to Richmond. However, he also said Democrats plan on taking "better steps" to protect abortion access.
"To change our constitution, it takes a two-year process with an intervening election, that's more like a three-year discussion, to put in our constitution, we are definitely going to take steps to do that, in the meantime, we'll have to take intermediate steps to take," Surovell told WUSA9's Matthew Torres.
Virginia is the only state in the South that has not restricted abortion access in response to the Supreme Court decision last year. Currently, abortion is legal until 26 weeks and six days of pregnancy.
Ramadan who is currently a professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government says the results are a huge hit at Youngkin's political future.
"Governor Youngkin will be basically a lame duck Governor for the next two years, and this pretty much ended political aspirations for him beyond Virginia at least for now," he said.
Democrats are projected to hold onto the school board majority in Loudoun County, which according to Ramadan is an indication that the "parents matter" movement is not resonating in the commonwealth. Loudoun County is credited by Republicans for being the birthplace of the parental rights movement in Virginia.
Youngkin and republican candidates in the Commonwealth campaigned behind the movement that is rooted in grievances over schools' handling of the pandemic, and cultural divides over race, sexual orientation and gender identity.
"That worked for Glenn Youngkin two years ago for his gubernatorial run, it was clear that it did not work this time and that campaign was a one-time campaign, that issue is a one-time issue," Ramadan added.
Youngkin said his priorities for the next two years are reigning in the cost of living, providing some tax relief, "excellence in education", safe communities, and transformation for behavioral health.