Editor’s note: This is the seventh time Series of profiles One of presidential candidate Donald Trump’s potential running mates on the 2024 Republican Party ticket.
A possible name in the East President Trump’s The running mate shortlist is being praised for its “massive” bipartisan appeal by political insiders who say its potential selection could spell trouble for President Biden in key swing states in November.
Trump has said he will announce his vice presidential nominee at next month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and is rumored to be considering a long list of names, including Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a rising star in the party.
Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove told Fox News Digital, “He has brought to the job skills gained from decades of buying and helping improve companies, taking them from good or broken to great!” referring to Youngkin’s experience in the private sector before successfully running for governor in 2021.
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From left, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Carolina Governor Tim Scott. All have been floated as potential vice presidential candidates for former President Trump. (Getty Images)
“In doing so, he has earned a reputation for strong leadership and for making government work for people,” Rove said, praising his “successful” tenure so far leading the Democrat-leaning state while “advancing an ambitious agenda of education reform, parental rights, economic growth and job creation.”
Rove said Youngkin’s “victory in a state where Biden won by 10 points causes many observers to emphasize his bipartisan appeal,” a point that fellow Republican strategist Erin Perrin said extended to his “governing success” and reflected his “ability to appeal across party lines.”
Perrin told Fox that Youngkin has strong approval ratings Across Virginiawhich polls estimated at over 50%, was due to his “effective leadership”, and that his appeal to Democrats would “be overwhelming during the general election campaign.”
“Virginia is also showing signs of competitiveness due to dissatisfaction with Biden within the Democratic base, who will have to rely on support from deep-blue Northern Virginia to win the state,” Perrin said.
A Fox News Poll Polls released earlier this month showed Trump and Biden were neck and neck among voters in Virginia, a state no Republican presidential candidate has won since former President George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 22, 2024 in Washington, DC (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Perrin said, “Donors appreciate Youngkin’s Republican politics, which balance conservative values with pragmatic governing and could help bring more money to the campaign.” He added that one of his “major advantages” was “the ease of his relationship with Trump,” while other potential running mates “struggle very hard to get in front of Trump and get him to like them.”
“Plus there’s the potential to flip Virginia electorally. In 2021, Youngkin defeated Democrat and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a state that President Joe Biden won by 10 points just a year ago. The win reflects his ability to attract swing voters and energize the Republican base in key states, boosting the GOP’s electoral prospects.”
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling He also noted Youngkin’s ability to garner support across party lines, and credited his “dream-oriented positivity”, which he said works well across the Commonwealth, and which led to “a unique coalition of MAGA, traditional Republicans, and independents” that helped him win the governor’s office.
“He could potentially help win over Nikki Haley voters, independents and perhaps some disaffected Democrats as a balance on the ticket,” he said. “Still, Trump cares less about optimism, electoral potential and balance, and more about picking someone who will just be his attack dog and a ‘yes man.'”
While Youngkin “shocked the political universe” with his surprise win in 2021, Walling said that success, as well as his high approval ratings, did not translate into victories in legislative elections last year when Republicans lost control of the Virginia House of Delegates and fell short of winning a majority in the Virginia Senate.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference in Washington, DC on Saturday (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“Although he was a very successful businessman prior to his campaign, which matches Donald Trump’s background, he may be more suited for a Cabinet position in a Trump administration, or as a front-runner in 2028 if Trump loses again in 2024,” Walling said.
“Youngkin is worrisome as a candidate in 2028, and would be worrisome for vice president in 2024. But I think he has zero chance of being the party’s nominee for vice president this cycle.”
Rove and Perrin also argued that Youngkin had some drawbacks to his potential selection, including aspects of his private business career and relatively little experience in elected office.
“This is his first and only term and he’s only run in one campaign,” Rove said, adding that he could face scrutiny for being extremely wealthy due to his career in finance.
“Youngkin is popular in Virginia, but not as widely known nationally as other potential vice presidential candidates. His appeal is in line with that of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Senator Tim Scott, meaning he may not be all that different than them in terms of his ability to raise money,” Perrin said.
Former President Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin met for the first time earlier this month. (Trump campaign)
He added, “Additionally, Youngkin’s hands-on, CEO-level approach is well-suited to navigate the business community, whereas the other vice president candidates have been members of Capitol Hill, meaning the Hill and its ups and downs are a bit more unknown to Youngkin than others, but a strong background in relationship building could still balance that out.”
A source close to Youngkin told Fox News Digital that the governor was not thinking of running himself amid Trump’s search for a vice presidential nominee.
“Youngkin’s only goal was to help Trump compete against Biden in Virginia,” the source said. “The focus is on winning, and that decision is up to the president and his team.”
Youngkin, who largely kept his distance from Trump during the 2021 campaign, Told in an interview with Fox News Digital Earlier this month, he said he “fully supports” the former president’s bid to unseat Biden, and said he plans to “enthusiastically campaign” for his victory.
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The governor called for action to bring back the former president while speaking just before Trump at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual Road to Majority conference in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. the White HouseAlso demanded to strengthen the Republican majority in Congress.
Youngkin also met Trump for the first time Rumors of him being considered as a potential running mate fueled further speculation earlier this month, though there have been no reports or confirmations to date that he has actually been included in any ongoing vetting process.
Others who have been floated as possibilities to join Trump on the Republican ticket include House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
