Terry McAuliffe wins Democratic nomination for Virginia governor

Terry McAuliffe will get a chance to run for a second term as Virginia governor after he won the Democratic nomination Tuesday night.

RICHMOND, Va. - Terry McAuliffe, the exuberant former Virginia governor and longtime fixture of Democratic politics, won the party’s nomination Tuesday in his quest for a second term in office.

McAuliffe will go on to face GOP nominee and political newcomer Glenn Youngkin in the November general election.

Terry McAuliffe makes a bid for another term in Va.

In Virginia, governors cannot serve consecutive terms. So after ceding the role to his former Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam for the past four years, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe wants to return as the Commonwealth’s chief executive. But with a crowded field among his fellow Democrats, will the changing political climate help or hurt McAuliffe? He weighed in on the race with Jim Lokay on The Final 5.

Virginia is the only state in the nation with an open race for governor this year, and the contest is expected to be closely watched as a barometer of voter sentiment in each party heading into the midterm elections. Virginia Republicans have not won a statewide race in over a decade.

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McAuliffe, a longtime Democratic Party fundraiser and a close friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, held office from 2014 to 2018. Like all Virginia governors, he was prohibited from seeking a consecutive term. He jumped into the race in December after deciding in 2019 against a run for president.

McAuliffe's Republican opponent - Glenn Youngkin - offered this statement shortly after learning of McAuliffe's victory:

"While we differ mightily as to how to best serve Virginians, I want to thank the five contenders in today’s primary for running. I welcome Terry McAuliffe to the race and look forward to presenting our competing ideas for Virginia’s future.

"Our Commonwealth is less safe than it was 8 years ago, does not provide the economic opportunity that Virginians deserve, and is more expensive for workers and families. Voters from across the political spectrum agree that we need a new kind of leader to bring a new day to Virginia. Get ready, because Terry McAuliffe will default to the same political games he’s played his entire life. I’m confident that voters will not choose a recycled, 40-year political insider and career politician who pretends to be a businessman, who talks big but doesn’t deliver, and who failed Virginians the first time he was governor. I am looking forward and moving beyond the politics of the past to bring people together around our shared values and rebuilding Virginia into the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family. Together we will reignite our economy, restore excellence in our schools, and reestablish our commitment to public safety. I invite every Virginian to join our team."