Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, points to multiple systems that already elicit parent engagement and ensure local decision making remains central to instructional and curriculum decisions. “It’ll be interesting to see if education is as high a priority for Youngkin the governor as it was for Youngkin the candidate,” said Farnsworth.

Youngkin Pledged More Parental Control of Education, But Changes May Prove Difficult (T74)

“When an issue is working, a candidate is wise to stick with it,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. Youngkin's success on the subject was all the more remarkable because critical race theory is not part of any public K-12 curricula in the state. “Granted, the largely made-up story of critical race theory in Virginia schools is about as relevant to education as the death panels talk was to Obamacare. But they work politically so expect more of them," Farnsworth said.

GOP sees a new playbook for 2022 midterms in Glenn Youngkin’s campaign against critical race theory (USA Today)

“I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” McAuliffe said during a gubernatorial debate. That statement became fodder for what The Washington Post termed a “massive” advertising campaign, which “likely cost McAuliffe the governorship,” according to political scientist Stephen Farnsworth.

Democrats Can’t Keep Dismissing Complaints About ‘Critical Race Theory (Forbes)

"Youngkin's economic development plan is more likely to be supported by Democratic lawmakers than his plan for schools," said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.

Glenn Youngkin Charting a Path Forward After Winning Virginia Governor’s Race (WJLA)