Republicans aim to repeat Youngkin's schools tactic in 2022 elections
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[November 04, 2021]
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hoping to retake
both houses of Congress in elections a year from now, Republicans plan
to follow a strategy Glenn Youngkin used to win Virginia's governor's
race, making schools the front line in U.S. culture wars, several
lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Youngkin, a former Carlyle Group Inc chief executive, defeated former
Governor Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday, partly by focusing on - and fueling
- parental anger over the way schools have addressed race and gender and
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The approach belies the criticism Republicans faced under former
President Donald Trump for seeking cuts in education and trying to pay
for a proposed Trump border wall with Mexico using funds budgeted for
schools and childcare centers.
Several leading Republicans said on Wednesday they valued a campaign
message aimed at parents.
"The one thing you will find is, the Republican Party will be the party
of education," said House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin
McCarthy. He said House Republicans would soon roll out a "parents' bill
of rights."
Republicans have been heartened by Youngkin's victory in Virginia, a
state that has drifted toward Democrats in recent years, and by strong
Republican performances in other states on Tuesday.
Democrats hold razor-thin majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate.
Historical trends and President Joe Biden's flagging poll numbers give
Republicans an advantage in next year's contest to determine which party
controls Congress.
McCarthy predicted that more than 70 Democratic-controlled House seats
will be competitive next year.
Youngkin latched onto concerns from parents that schools are teaching
left-wing ideas to fight racism at the expense of more traditional
subjects.
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Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin speaks
during his election night party at a hotel in Chantilly, Virginia,
U.S., November 3, 2021. REUTERS/ Jonathan Ernst
He vowed to ban the teaching of "critical race
theory," a legal framework that examines how racism shapes U.S. laws
and policies. Virginia school officials say critical race theory as
a subject is not taught in classrooms.
Republicans also tried to direct anger over schooling at Biden's
emerging $1.75 trillion social-spending and climate-change
legislation, which offers universal preschool for 3- and
4-year-olds.
"Democrats should listen to the voters. Drop this reckless taxing
and spending spree," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in
a floor speech on Wednesday.
Democrats dismissed the Republican rhetoric.
"Republicans can say it shows Democrats are overreaching, and
Democrats can say it shows we should have enacted this prior to the
election and run on it," said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
"Everybody has an easy spin here."
Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said the Youngkin message on
education resonated with parents who became immersed in schooling
issues during months spent at home with their children during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard
Goller)
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