McAuliffe, Youngkin Clash Over Abortion, COVID-19 Vaccines In VA Governor's Debate

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin met Tuesday evening for the second and final debate in Virginia’s gubernatorial election, with McAuliffe calling Youngkin a "Donald Trump wannabe" and Youngkin emphasizing he would make sure Virginia remains a right-to-work state.

Five weeks from Election Day and with early voting already under way, recent polls suggest a tight race between McAuliffe, who is seeking a second term after his first ended in 2018, and Youngkin, a former executive with The Carlyle Group and political newcomer.

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted Tuesday evening's debate at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College's Alexandria campus.

The Democrats and Republicans agreed with the Chamber of Commerce not to invite Princess Blanding, the Liberation Party's candidate for governor, to participate in the debate, even though her name will appear on the ballot statewide, along with the names of McAuliffe and Youngkin.

Blanding, a guest at the event, interrupted the debate's moderator, NBC News' Chuck Todd, to question why she was not included in the debate. "I am on the ballot," Blanding yelled from the audience. "I have every right to be up there."

After about a five-minute interruption, Todd resumed questioning McAuliffe and Youngkin. On the issue of abortion, Youngkin described himself as "pro-life" and said he only supports a woman's right to abortion in the case of rape, incest, or if the woman's life is in jeopardy.

McAuliffe, who declined to answer whether he supports allowing a woman to have an abortion in the third trimester of pregnancy, said that as governor from 2014 to 2018, he fought back against attempts by Republicans in the General Assembly to close all women's health clinics in the state and vetoed multiple bills that would have defunded Planned Parenthood.

The debate, the second and final debate between McAuliffe and Youngkin, followed the first debate on Sept. 16 at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy.

McAuliffe is seeking to become the first governor since 1973 to be elected to a second non-consecutive term. By law, Virginia governors can only serve one consecutive term.

Polls show a tight contest, with McAuliffe holding a 50 percent to 47 percent lead over Youngkin in a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. A recent University of Mary Washington poll showed Youngkin in the lead.

Former President Donald Trump’s unpopularity helped Democrats win control of all three of Virginia's statewide offices and the General Assembly. But Republicans believe enthusiasm is on their side in this election.

On Tuesday night, McAuliffe again accused Youngkin of running for governor "to bring Donald Trump’s politics to Virginia." Youngkin asked why McAuliffe consistently brings up Trump's name on the campaign trail when the election is between the two of them.

On the issue of COVID-19, Youngkin, a Trump supporter, publicly says Virginians should get vaccinated but is opposed to vaccine and mask requirements. McAuliffe supports school mask mandates and has called for vaccine requirements in the health care industry, at colleges and public schools. He also believes private business should require vaccines.

During the debate, both candidates said they oppose repeal of Virginia's right-to-work law.

Right-to-work repeal has become a key dividing line for Virginia Democrats, with more centrists like McAuliffe dismissing it as an effort that could hurt the state's business climate and liberals pushing it as a step to help workers.

The right-to-work law, which dates back to 1947 in Virginia, prevents unions from forcing workers to pay union dues as a condition of their employment, a practice that effectively weakens organized labor.

Youngkin emphasized his strong opposition to repealing Virginia's right-to-work law and argued McAuliffe would sign legislation repealing the law if it came to his desk as governor.

Earlier this year, Democratic leaders in the General Assembly once again blocked proposals during the 2021 legislative session to repeal Virginia's right-to-work law.

When asked whether he would push for protections at the state level for transgender students, McAuliffe said questions like whether transgender students should use the bathroom that aligns with their gender should be left up to local school districts with guidance from the state.

Youngkin said school districts should include parents in the dialogue on transgender student rights. The Republican also agreed with conservative community members in Fairfax County who recently complained about LGBTQ-themed books in high school libraries that contain sexual content.

McAuliffe countered that he does not believe parents should get to decide what books students read or what is taught in schools.

Outside the debate venue, Blanding explained to reporters in more detail why she interrupted the debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor.

"They are trying to silence me so that no one knows that I am a candidate on the ballot and they feel then they have to choose between the lesser of two evils," Blanding said. "We have these two rich white men that are sitting up there, and you don't hear anyone reporting that I am the only Black woman in the history of Virginia to make it on the ballot."

Outside the debate venue on the NOVA Alexandria campus, environmental activists called on both candidates to pledge to put a stop to the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas pipeline under construction in southwest Virginia.

The activists contend pipeline construction is harming the water quality in southwest Virginia and if completed would exacerbate climate change by promoting the burning of natural gas.

The candidates were not asked about their position on the Mountain Valley Pipeline at the debate. During his first term as governor, McAuliffe’s administration approved the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. His campaign has yet to state his current position on the pipeline project.

At the debate, McAuliffe said he would be the "clean energy governor" and called for the construction of wind energy components in the Hampton Roads area.

Youngkin believes the Hampton Roads area should prepare for rising sea levels but argued that Virginia should walk back its existing clean energy commitments in the Virginia Clean Economy Act. He said he fears the state's greenhouse gas-reduction plans will "turn Virginia into California."

Along with governor, voters will choose several other new leaders this fall in Virginia, including the next lieutenant governor and attorney general, as well as members of the House of Delegates and leaders in some local offices.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. Early voting is already under way, and the deadline to register to vote or to update an existing registration is Oct. 12.