Republican nominees in Virginia are calling on the state’s Democrat governor and his administration to roll back their draconian COVID-19 restrictions so the state can get back on its economic feet.
Current Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam previously announced that his strict limits on capacity and social distancing would be lifted starting June 15. Even after COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state fell this week to their lowest levels since the pandemic began in 2020, however, the Democrat has yet to publicize a plan to end the state-of-emergency declaration in Virginia, even after it expires on June 30. And despite Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines suggesting that fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear a face covering, Northam has not promised to end the statewide mask mandate anytime soon.
This lack of transparency and extended power grab is unacceptable and unfair to Virginians, said Republican nominee for governor Glenn Youngkin, Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Winsome Sears, and Republican nominee for attorney general Jason Miyares.
“Governor Northam’s consistently poor leadership has resulted in Virginia employers being left in limbo, caught between following CDC guidance and complying with the more onerous requirements put in place by the governor’s Health and Safety Codes Board,” the joint statement read. “There is no reason for Virginia to be out of step with the latest guidance, but that’s where we are today because of the regime in Richmond and its unchecked, unfounded edicts. It’s time to open Virginia back up and get our economy moving again.”
Northam isn’t the only Democrat who contributed to the state’s downfall during the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Republicans say. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is currently in the running to unseat Northam, is also to blame.
“This failure is the latest example of the McAuliffe-Northam Administration’s anti-business approach and policies, which has resulted in Virginia falling behind other states when it comes to growing jobs and creating more opportunity,” the joint statement continued. “In April, more than twice as many people dropped out of the labor force in Virginia than the number that went back to work. Our Commonwealth is not heading in the right direction, and it’s clear that if we get stuck with a third term of the McAuliffe-Northam Administration, Virginia’s
