Former President Donald Trump praised Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R-VA) executive order on election security as Republicans look to flip Virginia this November.
On Wednesday, Youngkin issued an executive order enhancing ballot security, establishing counting machine testing, and strengthening voter list maintenance. Trump heralded the measure on social media, arguing it keeps non-citizens from accessing swing-state voter rolls.
“The beautiful Commonwealth of Virginia, superbly led by Governor Glenn Youngkin, IS TAKING A STRONG LEAD IN SECURING THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER — PROTECTING EVERY LEGAL VOTE AND KEEPING ILLEGAL ALIENS THAT HAVE BEEN LET INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM VOTING,” Trump said in a post to Truth Social.
A Republican presidential candidate hasn’t won Virginia in two decades. Political strategists say that could change this year as the GOP bids to flip the Old Dominion red. Both the Harris and Trump campaigns have opened at least 30 election offices across the state, and its governor said in July it is “in play.”
Trump has long expressed concern about security in November’s election, and he prodded other states to consider voter security measures “to make sure the Election is FAIR and SECURE.”
“EVERY STATE SHOULD FOLLOW VIRGINIA’S LEAD,” Trump urged as he pushed for “volunteers to watch the polls” this November. “All votes will be on paper ballots and counted safely and fairly, not by machines connected to the internet — A big security risk.”
There was no evidence of widespread voter fraud or a lack of security in the 2020 elections.
Trump and Youngkin share a complicated relationship. As the Virginia Republican was rumored to be a presidential rival against Trump, the former president lashed out at his potential rival on social media. Youngkin won his gubernatorial bid in 2022 and made his Chesapeake debut this past June.
The battleground state governor joined Trump onstage at the time, promising “On behalf of 8.7 million Virginians, Mr. President, we are going to go to work and get you back in the White House!”
Youngkin was later rumored to be eyed by the Trump camp as a running mate material before the GOP leader settled on Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).
In a statement on Wednesday, Youngkin vowed his Executive Order 35 would make sure the 2024 election in his state is safe and secure.
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“This isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue, it’s an American and Virginian issue,” Youngkin noted. “Every legal vote deserves to be counted without being watered down by illegal votes or inaccurate machines.”
Virginia is rated as “Likely Democratic” by the Cook Political Report.
