When Glenn Youngkin defeated Virginia Governor Terry McAullife in 2021, Youngkin became the first Republican to pull off a statewide election victory in Virginia since 2009, according to The Associated Press.
Three years later, the GOP leader doesn't have much to celebrate.
In a Sunday, June 16 report, Politico's Jonathan Martin notes, before "Youngkin’s all-in effort to take full control of Virginia’s Legislature flopped, before Virginia lost the next FBI headquarters to Maryland and before Youngkin’s splashy deal to lure a new arena complex to Alexandria ended with the governor’s fellow D.C.-area dealmaker, sports owner Ted Leonsis, stating in the Washingtonian 'I’m a living testament now to say it was easier, more efficient to do business in Washington, D.C., than it was in Virginia,' — he was a rising Republican star.
Despite the Virginia leader's meeting with Donald Trump last week "at the Loudoun County, Virginia, golf club that bears the former president’s name, discussing recent polling that shows Virginia potentially competitive this year," Martin reports, Youngkin is struggling to grab the MAGA hopeful's attention.
Recently appearing on Fox News to advocate for another Trump presidency isn't helping either.
Trumpworld remembers the governor's lack of support for the former president over the last few months, Politico reports.
"When the former president came to Richmond before Super Tuesday — about two months later and with the nomination effectively his — Youngkin was noticeably absent," Martin notes, adding, "The governor’s better option that Saturday night: Cameron Indoor Stadium for the UVa-Duke basketball game."
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Furthermore, Martin adds, "Trump and his top advisers were irritated by the no-show at the time and equally annoyed that Youngkin waited until after Virginia’s noncompetitive primary to endorse."
Now, "as Trump approaches a vice presidential decision in a matter of weeks, the wealthy businessman turned governor on the short list is not named Youngkin."
Politico reports, "The more likely step forward for Youngkin would be to improve his standing with Trump and vie for a cabinet post should the former president win in November. O’Malley, the former Youngkin adviser, said the governor would make an ideal Treasury secretary because of his knowledge of markets and ability to drive a public message."
Despite his failures as governor, Martin notes:
There are some in Trump’s orbit who tell me Youngkin could have a role in the administration, even if vice president isn’t on the table.
What’s for certain to many of those who know Youngkin, though, is that there’s an end goal.
*\[Virginia Democratic House Speaker Don\] Scott told me that when he attended the Kennedy Center Honors late last year with \[US Senator Mark\] Warner \(D\-VA\), the two encountered David Rubenstein, the former Carlyle Group CEO who worked with Youngkin at the private equity firm\.*
Rubenstein, Scott recalled, said Youngkin is focused on one objective: becoming president.
READ MORE: Why Glenn Youngkin’s 'political brand' is in jeopardy in Virginia: report
Despite his charisma and over 50 percent approval rate, there are obstacles Youngkin must overcome.
Politico emphasizes, "He never decided what he wanted to be. He remains torn between the main current of his party today, Trumpist grievance politics, and being the pragmatic governor of a Democratic-leaning state; between keeping his virtue intact for a future presidential primary and amassing a record to have something to sell by the time he gets to Iowa."
Politico's full report is available here.